Preparation and property characterization of silk fibroin/calcium carbonate composite scaffold material

In order to develop a composite material complying with the mechanical properties and internal structure of artificial bone requirements,silk fibroin and homemade calcium carbonate powder were used as raw materials to prepare composite scaffolds by freeze-drying method.Meanwhile,composite scaffolds′ physical and chemical properties were tested.Experimental results show that: each sample cross section is porous and has pore diameter of 20-300 μm,and microporous exists between pores for mutual connection.Porosity is of 43%-76%.Mechanical properties test results show that composite scaffolds′ elastic modulus is of 23-1 802 MPa,compression strength is of 8-41 MPa.FT-IR spectra show that peak offset,weakening and disappearance occur,hence,certain composite occur between silk and calcium carbonate.DSC tests show that,calcium carbonate particles have promoted the conformational changes of silk fibroin from random coil to β-folding conformation,and improved the crystallinity.