Silk Sericin Retards the Crystallization of Silk Fibroin

Abstract

Abstract Summary: The thermal and structural analysis of silk fibroin (SF) and silk sericin (SS) blend films reveals that the crystallization of SF is retarded in the presence of SS. Although a phase separation was observed, there might be a strong interaction at the boundary of the SF and SS through intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which restricts the conformational transition of SF. TEM image of the cross‐section of the SF/SS blend (75:25) film (magnification: ×15 000). image TEM image of the cross‐section of the SF/SS blend (75:25) film (magnification: ×15 000).