Processing trends of silk fibers: Silk degumming, regeneration and physical functionalization

Abstract

The silk fibroin (SF) covers numerous applications in various fields. The fibroins can be extracted by multiple degumming methods. The degumming loss associated with soap, alkali, acid, enzyme and amine degumming is ∼18.73%, ∼24.32%, ∼23.21%, ∼25.7%, and ∼26.08%, respectively. Recently emerged degumming methods include SAEW, microwave, CO₂ supercritical fluid and ultrasonication degumming with the loss of ∼41.24%, ∼25.7, ∼98% and ∼22%, respectively. The regenerated degummed silk fibroins can be physically functionalized via UV irradiation, plasma treatment, gas treatment, lithography and sputtering. This review describes various silk degumming techniques, SF physical functionalization, along with their impact on silk fibroin properties.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Silk fibroin
• degumming
• degumming loss
• physical functionalization
• regeneration

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Dr C. P. Ramanarayanan, Vice-Chancellor of DIAT (DU), Pune and Dr. V. K. Saxena, Additional Director of Centre for Converging Technologies, University of Rajasthan, for their support and motivation. The first author is thankful to Mr. Swaroop Gharde, and Mr. Prakash M. Gore for their continuous guidance and manuscript refinement. The first author is grateful to her parents, Gaurav Sharma and Anushka Purabgola, for their support and guidance. The authors are thankful to the Editor, and all anonymous reviewers for improving the quality of the manuscript by their valuable suggestions and comments.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).