Preparation of Eri silk fibroin and gelatin blend film loaded chlorhexidine using as model for hydrophilic drug release

Abstract

The objective of this research was to prepare Eri silk fibroin solution for preparing silk film loaded chlorhexidine drug as model for hydrophilic drug release. The Eri silk cocoons were boiled in 0.5%NaCO₃ solution at 90℃, and then left in air dried at room temperature. The fibroin was dissolved in 9M (Ca(NO₃)₂) with ethanol (2 by mole) and heated at 70℃. The silk fibroin (SF) solution was then dialyzed to exclude salt in phosphate buffer. The SF and gelatin (G) solutions were mixed for preparation of films in both with and without chlorhexidine. The films were observed their morphology under scanning electron microscope. The results found that all of films were rough of their surfaces, homogeneous texture without phase separation. The native SF film composed of pores throughout the film area but did not observe in native G film. The results also showed that the SF and G can be good interacted to form hydrogen bonds. These were indicated from FTIR spectra and thermal analysis. The chlorhexidine drug has not affect on the changes of film properties. However, the releasing pattern of chlorhexidine from each film was varied. The highest rate of drug releasing was found in the native SF film while the native G film was the lowest. It might be suggested that the drug releasing rate was depended on polarity of each polymer components.