Effect of cross-linkable bacterial cellulose nanocrystals on the physicochemical properties of silk sericin films

The manufacture of eco-friendly cocoon silk-derived sericin films increases the availability of sericulture resources and the interest in expanding the range of the potential applications of sericin-based materials. However, the brittleness and weak tensile properties of sericin and its vulnerability to moist environments have limited its use. To overcome these two shortcomings of sericin, a functionalized bacterial cellulose-derived nanocrystal (average diameter: 25.4 nm) capable of physical strengthening and chemical crosslinking on existing sericin films was prepared. The improvement of the optical, physicochemical, and mechanical properties of the sericin film was observed through the dialdehyde bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (D-CNCs) incorporated into the silk sericin (SS) matrix. The physical reinforcing effect of the D-CNCs on the SS films enhances the mechanical properties of t…