Silk Fibroin/Chitosan Blend Films Loaded Methylene Blue as a Model for Polar Molecular Releasing: Comparison between Thai Silk Varieties

The aims of this study were to prepare Silk Fibroin (SF)/Chitosan (CS) blend films loaded Methylene Blue (MB) and characterize their related properties. The SF was obtained from various Thai silk varieties locally called Nang Lai, Mo and Kaki. The blend films were prepared by mixing the SF, CS and MB solutions before pouring on polystyrene plates. They were then taken to an oven at 40C for 3 days to obtain the films. In addition, each native SF silk variety and CS films were also prepared as control. SEM micrographs showed that native Nang Lai film appeared the bead like particles while other film types were smooth. Comparison between the blend films, Mo variety film has smooth surfaces while Nang Lai and Kaki films composed of flat particles covered their surfaces. FTIR results indicated that all of native SF has similar absorption bands at amide regions which coexisted of a-helix and -sheet structures. Moreover, SF blended with CS showed strong bands at amide II, exhibit -sheet structure. The blend film of Mo variety rapidly decomposed whereas Nang Lai was the lowest. In vitro releasing study indicated that MB released more quickly at the initial 30 min which Mo variety was the slowest.