Fabrication and Characterization of Tasar Silk Fibroin-Based Scaffolds Derived from Antheraea mylitta

Abstract

Tasar silk fibroin derived from Antheraea mylitta is a natural protein-based material that can be processed into porous scaffolds for biomaterial investigations. The present study aimed to isolate Tasar silk fibroin, fabricate a scaffold through lyophilization, and evaluate its physicochemical and morphological characteristics. Fibroin was isolated from Tasar silkworm cocoons by alkaline degumming using 0.02 M sodium carbonate at 100 °C. The isolated fibroin was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy before ammonium sulphate-assisted purification at 50% saturation. The purified material was then used to fabricate a scaffold by lyophilization. The scaffold was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), hydration and swelling analyses, and in vitro mass-loss assessment. FTIR analysis revealed characteristic protein-associated absorption bands, including a prominent amide I band at 1623.3 cm⁻¹. SEM examination revealed a fibrous scaffold structure with overlapping fibres and porous morphological features. The scaffold exhibited hydration and swelling behaviour during phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) exposure. Under PBS–lysozyme conditions, cumulative scaffold mass loss reached 68.85% after four weeks. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating Tasar silk fibroin-based scaffolds using the reported processing approach. The combined spectroscopic, morphological, hydration, swelling, and mass-loss assessments provide a basis for further investigation of the material's functional characteristics and potential biomaterial applications.