Journals Proceedings

Abstract

Silk fibroin from Thai Bombyx mori (Nangnoi Srisaket-I) cocoons was interested to use as biomaterial for tissue engineering scaffolds. In this paper, Thai silk fibroin based nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning technique. The effects of electrospinning parameters, such as silk fibroin/formic acid solutions concentrations and applied voltage, on the morphology and mechanical properties of Thai silk fibroin based nanofibrous scaffold were investigated. Thai Silk fibroin (SF) sponges were dissolved in 98% formic acid with concentration of 20, 30, and 40 % (w/v) and spun into fibers at applied voltage of 15, 20, and 25 kV, respectively. The morphological and mechanical properties of SF-nanofibers were examined by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and AFM indentation method. Electrospinning technique could produce nanofibers in the range of diameter from 100–300 nm. The concentration of silk fibroin solution was considered as the most important parameter for regeneration of Thai silk fibroin nanofibers. The average diameter of the electrospun SF-nanofibers was found to increase with the increase in the solution concentration. Furthermore, the fiber diameter has also been considered as the main factor to influence the mechanical properties of silk fibroin nanofibrous scaffold. These characteristic could provide the utility data of Thai silk fibroin nanofiners for tissue engineering applications.