Simple preparation and characteristics of silk fibroin microsphere

We investigated the biomaterial and pharmaceutical utility of pure silk fibroin (SF) protein as a possible for separation, using Sephadex G-25 gel filtration chromatography and simply preparing SF microsphere particles (SFMP) by spray dryer. Also, some of its physicochemical properties and morphology were investigated. Obtaining microspheres and/or submicronic particles by spray dryer method was accelerated or completed with the transition from the random coil to the beta-sheet structure during spray dryer treatment. It was identified by the basic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of SFMP. The various pH range of SFMP's swelling ratio is dependent on the pH of the solution, not on the occurred gelation. Morphologically, SFMP was spherical in shape, and particles, average 2 +/- 10 mum in size, were observed by scanning electron microscope and particle analyzer, respectively. The average molecular weight (M-W) of pure SF protein dissolved in calcium chloride is about 61,500 g/mol as measured by gel permeation chromatography. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.