Characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post-treatments

Silk fibroin (SF) has been successfully used for medical devices due to its biodegradability with non-toxic end products, high tensile strength and mechanical robustness, but also because of its high flexibility potential. Although natural silk fibers have excellent strength and flexibility, regener...

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Main Authors: Enric Casanova-Batlle, Antonio J. Guerra, Joaquim Ciurana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-12-01
Series:Polymer Testing
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941822003051
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author Enric Casanova-Batlle
Antonio J. Guerra
Joaquim Ciurana
author_facet Enric Casanova-Batlle
Antonio J. Guerra
Joaquim Ciurana
author_sort Enric Casanova-Batlle
collection DOAJ
description Silk fibroin (SF) has been successfully used for medical devices due to its biodegradability with non-toxic end products, high tensile strength and mechanical robustness, but also because of its high flexibility potential. Although natural silk fibers have excellent strength and flexibility, regenerated silk materials generally become brittle in the dry state. For this reason, researchers have studied the effects that manufacturing and post-treatment parameters have on their mechanical properties, but they have also studied the impact on other factors such as biodegradability on the environment. This work presents an optimized process for direct ink write a regenerated SF bioink and its possible post-treatments. A simple method to concentrate the aqueous SF has been reported. The technique was then employed to 3D print test specimens for multiple mechanical analysis to characterize the resulting parameters of the processed silk. The effect of post-treating the material with different processes (no-treatment, immersion in ethanol for 24 h, and subsequently immersion in methanol for 30, 60 or 120 min) was explored. The different post-treatments resulted in distinct effects on the silk properties, suggesting that SF molecular structure could be controlled by the post-treatment process. The results showed a transition to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-insoluble silk when the silk was treated with alcohols. This resulted in a more brittle material than the untreated group, with a lower strain at break. Nevertheless, the post-treatments enhanced the stability of silk in water, as they reported greater insolubility in PBS than the untreated group. This study characterizes and discusses the mechanical properties of SF processed with a novel additive manufacturing method intended for customization of medical devices.
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spelling doaj.art-f7f67d7e999940b288b62c55362a199b2022-12-22T03:38:41ZengElsevierPolymer Testing0142-94182022-12-01116107784Characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post-treatmentsEnric Casanova-Batlle0Antonio J. Guerra1Joaquim Ciurana2Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrials Construction, Universitat de Girona, C/Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 61, 17003 Girona, SpainEURECAT, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Plaça de la Ciència 2, 08243, Manresa, SpainDepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Industrials Construction, Universitat de Girona, C/Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 61, 17003 Girona, Spain; Corresponding author. Department of Mechanical Engineering and Indsutrial Construction, C/Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 61, 17003 Girona, Spain.Silk fibroin (SF) has been successfully used for medical devices due to its biodegradability with non-toxic end products, high tensile strength and mechanical robustness, but also because of its high flexibility potential. Although natural silk fibers have excellent strength and flexibility, regenerated silk materials generally become brittle in the dry state. For this reason, researchers have studied the effects that manufacturing and post-treatment parameters have on their mechanical properties, but they have also studied the impact on other factors such as biodegradability on the environment. This work presents an optimized process for direct ink write a regenerated SF bioink and its possible post-treatments. A simple method to concentrate the aqueous SF has been reported. The technique was then employed to 3D print test specimens for multiple mechanical analysis to characterize the resulting parameters of the processed silk. The effect of post-treating the material with different processes (no-treatment, immersion in ethanol for 24 h, and subsequently immersion in methanol for 30, 60 or 120 min) was explored. The different post-treatments resulted in distinct effects on the silk properties, suggesting that SF molecular structure could be controlled by the post-treatment process. The results showed a transition to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-insoluble silk when the silk was treated with alcohols. This resulted in a more brittle material than the untreated group, with a lower strain at break. Nevertheless, the post-treatments enhanced the stability of silk in water, as they reported greater insolubility in PBS than the untreated group. This study characterizes and discusses the mechanical properties of SF processed with a novel additive manufacturing method intended for customization of medical devices.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941822003051Silk fibroinDirect ink writingPost-treatmentsAdditive manufacturingMaterials engineering
spellingShingle Enric Casanova-Batlle
Antonio J. Guerra
Joaquim Ciurana
Characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post-treatments
Polymer Testing
Silk fibroin
Direct ink writing
Post-treatments
Additive manufacturing
Materials engineering
title Characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post-treatments
title_full Characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post-treatments
title_fullStr Characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post-treatments
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post-treatments
title_short Characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post-treatments
title_sort characterization of direct ink write pure silk fibroin based on alcohol post treatments
topic Silk fibroin
Direct ink writing
Post-treatments
Additive manufacturing
Materials engineering
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0142941822003051
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