Mechanical, structural and biodegradation characteristics of fibrillated silk fibres and papers

We characterised fibres and papers of microfibrillated silk from Bombyx mori produced by mechanical and enzymatic process. Milling increased the specific surface area of fibres from 1.5 to 8.5 m²/g and that enzymatic pre-treatment increased it further to 16.5 m²/g. These fibrils produced a uniform, significantly strong (tenacity 55 Nm/g) and stiff (Young's modulus > 2 GPa) papers. Enzymatic pre-treatment did not reduce molecular weight and tensile strength of papers but significantly improved fibrillation. Silk remained highly crystalline throughout the fibrillation process. Protease biodegradation was more rapid after fibrillation. Biodegradation was impacted by structural change due to enzymatic pre-treatment during the fibrillation. Biodegraded silk had much higher thermal degradation temperature. The unique combination of high strength, slow yet predicable degradation and controllable wicking properties make the materials ideally suited to biomedical and healthcare applications.