The physical state of water, absorbed in silk fibroin (SF)/S-carboxymethyl
kerateine (SCMK) blend films, was studied by differential scanning calorime
try (DSC) to investigate the change of internal structures of the blend fil
ms. The amount of non-freezing bound water in the blend film was decreased
with the addition of SCMK because of the change in the secondary structure
of SF from random coil form to beta-structure form. This transition could b
e also monitored by thermal analysis using DSC. The maximum change of the s
econdary structure was observed at a blend ratio of 50/50 (wt/wt). (C) 1999
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