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Structure and properties of silk fibroin–poly(vinyl alcohol) gel

2002; Elsevier BV; Volume: 30; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0141-8130(02)00007-7

1879-0003

Mingzhong Li, Shenzhou Lu, Zhengyu Wu, Ke Tian Tan, Norihiko Minoura, Shigenori Kuga,

Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity

A series of porous silk fibroin–poly(vinyl alcohol) blend gels were prepared from corresponding aqueous mixtures by freeze- or air-drying, and their structure and mechanical properties were examined. The air-dried gels had higher crystallinity and much greater strengths than the freeze-dried gels, and therefore are suitable for mechanical uses. The freeze-dried gels had characteristic porous structure potentially useful as cell culture substrate. Its structure could be systematically varied by changing freezing temperature and freeze–thaw pretreatments before drying.