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Morphology and Crystallinity Control of Novel Spider Silk-like Block Copolymer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 May 2012

Wenwen Huang ,
Sreevidhya Krishnaji ,
David Kaplan  and
Peggy Cebe
Wenwen Huang
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Nanoscopic Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
Sreevidhya Krishnaji
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
David Kaplan
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
Peggy Cebe*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Center for Nanoscopic Physics, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
*
*Email: peggy.cebe@tufts.edu
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Abstract

A new family of A-B di-block copolymers based on the amino acid sequences of Nephila clavipes major ampulate dragline spider silk, which have a strong potential for applications in tissue regeneration and drug delivery, was synthesized and characterized. The morphology was assessed by SEM: HBA3 formed fibrillar structure and 2 μm diameter hollow micelles, while HBA4 and HBA6 formed hollow micelles in water solution. The secondary structures of water-cast spider silk-like block copolymer films were assessed by FTIR. The crystallinity was determined by Fourier self-deconvolution of the amide I spectra and confirmed by wide angle X-ray diffraction. Results indicate that the self-assembled morphology and the crystallinity can be varied by changing the length of A-block, and a minimum of 3 A-blocks are required to form β sheet crystalline regions in water-cast spider silk block copolymers. A theoretical model was used to predict the specific reversing heat capacity, Cp(T), which is crucial to the design of smart biomaterials. Excellent agreement was found between the theoretical value and the Cp(T) determined by temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry. This method can serve as a standard by which to assess the thermal properties for other biologically inspired block copolymers, and then be further applied to control the biological interactions for use in drug delivery and smart biomaterials applications.

Keywords

biomaterialmorphologycrystalline
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1417: Symposium KK – Biomaterials for Tissue Regeneration , 2012 , mrsf11-1417-kk01-05
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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