Silk sericin is a hydrophilic natural polymer produced mainly by Lepidopteron insects of the family Bombycidae and Saturniidae. Silk sericin protein contains predominantly amino acid groups like serine (40%), glycine (16%), glutamic acid, aspartic acid, threonine, and tyrosine.
What is the composition of sericin?
Its organic composition is given by 46.5% carbon, 31% oxygen, 16.5% nitrogen, and 6% hydrogen [38]. The biochemical characteristics give sericin important biological properties such as biocompatibility, antibacterial activity, antioxidant, and moisturizing, among others [39].
What is fibroin and sericin?
Silk is a fibre produced by the silkworm in production of its cocoon. It consists mainly of two proteins, fibroin and sericin. Silk consists of 70–80% fibroin and 20–30% sericin; fibroin being the structural center of the silk, and sericin being the gum coating the fibres and allowing them to stick to each other.
What is the composition of amino acids?
An amino acid is an organic molecule that is made up of a basic amino group (−NH2), an acidic carboxyl group (−COOH), and an organic R group (or side chain) that is unique to each amino acid.
What is fibroin made of?
Fibroin is largely made up of the amino acids Gly-Ser-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ala and forms beta pleated sheets, β-keratin. Hydrogen bonds form between chains, and side chains form above and below the plane of the hydrogen bond network.
What is the meaning sericin?
Definition of sericin : a gelatinous protein that cements the two fibroin filaments in a silk fiber.
Why sericin is softened?
Sericin is a protein or the silk gum produced by the silk worm which holds the silk filaments together. To soften the sericin, the cocoons are immersed in cold and hot water . This softens the sericin and maked the silk filaments thread like.
How is sericin obtained?
Sericin was extracted by using water under pressure in an autoclave (121 °C for 30 min, and a liquor ratio 1:30 (w/v)), and dehydrated by freeze-drying.