Preparation and characterization of PEGDE crosslinked silk fibroin film

Abstract

To obtain water-insoluble silk fibroin (SF) materials, polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEG-DE) was selected as a crosslinking agent to prepare SF films (blends). The reaction conditions were optimized for the crosslinking of the SF molecules. The hot water stability of the blends was measured using BCA protein assay and gravimetric analysis. The molecular conformation and crystalline structure of the blends were analyzed by FTIR and XRD, respectively. When the mass ratio of SF:PEG-DE was 1.0:0.8, the hot water loss rate of the SF blends was minimized. PEG-DE could induce SF molecules to form β-sheets during the gel reaction process, resulting in improved crystallinity and hot water dissolved resistance of the blend fi lms. In order to demonstrate the cytotoxicity of the chemical reagents used to crosslink SF, L929 cells were seeded on the blend fi lm (SF:PEG-DE = 1:1) and cultured for 3 days. Cells of L929 readily adhered and spread in the fusiform on the blend fi lm resulting in high cell viability. The extracted liquid from the SF porous fi lm did not inhibit cell proliferation, as estimated by the MTT assay.

PEDOT:PSS interfaces stabilised using a PEGylated crosslinker yield improved conductivity and biocompatibility

“…to generate stable structures whilst also achieving increased conductivity of PEDOT:PSS. Poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) is a water soluble epoxy resin, considered a flexible chain polymer and has been adopted as a biocompatible crosslinker for freeze-dried silk sericin 24 and for low temperature processed silk fibroin films 25,26 . PEGDE molecules also have the potential to covalently bind with amino-and carboxyl groups of proteins as well as with hydroxyl groups via its epoxide terminations, and has been adopted as a crosslinker agent in redox hydrogels for biosensors 27 .…”