Silk fibroin/gelatin hybrid films for medical applications: Study on chlorhexidine diacetate

Abstract

This study aimed to prepare silk fibroin (SF)/gelatin (G) hybrid films by a solvent evaporation method for loading chlorhexidine diacetate (CHX). The SF and G solution in different ratios were mixed with CHX and placed on the 5 cm polystyrene plates before drying to obtain hybrid films. The films were determined their secondary structures and thermal properties by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), respectively. The results found that all of film composed of a-helix and [3-sheet structures. However, differences of the a-helix and [3-sheet structures were differed according to each component. The hybrid films showed soft texture and decreased of brittle compared to SF film only when the G content increased. Thermal properties of the films indicated that decomposition temperature profiles of all films did not differ dramatically, however, combination of characteristics both SF and G were appeared in hybrid films. The releasing rate of CHX-loaded in the films was found that the CHX has released from the SF film in higher rate than hybrid and G films, respectively. It is a promising that polarity, flexibility as well as component ratio of each polymer play important role on the releasing of CHX. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information.