| abstract |
The present invention provides a method for preparing a fluorescent silk fibroin solution, the method comprising the steps of: a) putting fluorescent cocoons in an aqueous solution containing a refining agent, followed by heating at 40-60℃ for 8-24 h and then washing with distilled water, thereby obtaining refined fluorescent silk fibroin; b) dissolving the refined fluorescent silk fibroin in a solvent, in which 15 mg to 1.5 g of dithiothreitol (DTT) is mixed with each 100 ㎖ of 9-9.6 M LiBr, at 40-60℃ for 1-5 h; and c) dialyzing the dissolved fluorescent silk fibroin in primary distilled water for 48-96 h. The refining agent preferably contains alcalase and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ). An existing method for preparing a silk fibroin solution from a fluorescent cocoon has disadvantages in that silk fibroin is not dissolved at a low temperature and the fluorescence is lost. However, according to the present invention, a method for adding a reductant has advantages in that a fluorescent silk fibroin solution can be prepared at a low temperature and the fluorescence is maintained. Therefore, according to the present invention, the fluorescent silk fibroin can be mass-produced and a biocompatible fluorescent protein can be easily prepared and provided, and thus, materials can be provided that are applicable to bio-industries, such as scaffolds for tissue regeneration, bio-imaging, and biosensors through and biochips. |