Structural characteristics of silk sericin from different silkworm varieties

초록

Silk sericin is a natural protein that has gained increasing interest in cosmetic and biomedical applications due to its excellent water retention, UV-blocking ability, and wound-healing properties. This study aimed to investigate the influence of silkworm variety on the structural and properties of sericin. Sericin was extracted from the cocoons of different silkworm varieties, and its composition, crystallinity, viscosity, gel strength, and thermal properties were evaluated. The sericin content varied significantly among varieties, with 9671 showing the highest value (23.9%) and Korea Sammyeon the lowest (20.4%). Non-protein components were also variable, ranging from 2.6% in Joohwangjam to 5.1% in N74. Crystallinity, solution viscosity, and gel strength, were strongly affected by silkworm variety. Notably, sericin from silkworm variety 126 exhibited the highest values across these parameters, while Korea Sammyeon showed the lowest. In contrast, thermal degradation temperature was consistent across all samples, indicating thermal stability is independent of silkworm variety. These findings demonstrate that the structural and physicochemical properties of sericin can be tuned by selecting specific silkworm varieties. This variability offers opportunities for the targeted application of sericin in products requiring customized performance, particularly in cosmetic and biomedical formulations.

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