New Route in Degumming of Bombyx Mory Silkworm Cocon for Biomaterial.

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Journal of Medical and Bioengineering
CONTENTS
Volume 4, Number 4, August 2015
Physiology
Maximal Rowing on Fixed and Slides Ergomeier """"'
Muscle Sltrergy of collegiate Rowers During 6 Min
Shctzlin Shahatudin and Sunil Agrawal
of Barley: Hordeum \rulgare L' (Poaceae) "'
study of the Effect of Salt Stress on Biometric characteristics
Abdetkader Hacli Seltd and Malika Ben Abderahmane
and Rough Sea conditions
Force Plate Balance Response of Seafarers during Still
F Gildenhul's and R' Dobson

Bioinformatics
veritication of GIvl2 Activator Protein for Potential Application


""""""'

as Lung cancer Biomarker'-

Padchanee' Sangthong' Busayamass'
Laclclawatt. Potpromma,ee, Kongsctk. Boonyapranai'
Chewaskulyong, Shui-Tein. Chen, and Lalida' Shank
Pattem Analysis""'
Premalignant Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis Using Proteomic
Zaw Zavv lltike and Shoon Lei 7['1n
The Rise of Mathematical

Oncology""""""-"

KiranGeorge,R-lvlatathi,J'Krishnatt'andNishaSuscutThoruas
Medical Device
in hnplantable Biosensors
hnmobilization of Glucose Oxidase on Gold Surface for Applications
Kuo-Yuan Hwa and Boopathi Subramani


by'Muiti-Piece-Mold-Injection'
Feasibitity of the Fabrication of the Silicone carotid Model
peng cao, Qttan Yttan, Guillaume olympe, Bntno Ramond, and Franqois Langevit

lvlethod"""""

Microcantilever based Biosensor for Disease Detection Applications""""""""'
P. G. Gopinath, V R- Anilhcl, and S' Armta Mastctnr

Pharmacology
cf Umbellitlora)
ln Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Red Gemor Q{othaphoebe
(lnd
Eko suhartono
Yttdi Firmanul Ari,fin, siti Hamidah, sudin Paniaitan,
Extract'
Antidiabetic and Antioxidant Activity of Jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus)
Eko Suhartono
Agung Biw'oro, Efrilia Tanjung, Iskandar' Khqirina' and
Lung after Formalin Exposure

Effect of Centella Asiatica on Oxidative Stress in Rat
M. A. Koswandi, and R. M. i{oah
H. I,htr.Hidayah, M. S. Nttr-Khairah-Izzati, T. I, Rasyidah,
Patients
Nlesenchymal Stem Ce1l tnfusion in chronic RenalFailure
Halq Gabr and Rania A' ZaYsi

Toxicology

rct of Heavy Metal on Malondialdehyde and Advanced Oxidation Protein Produtcs Concentuation: A Focus
...................332
Arsenic, Cadmiurn, and

Mercury

Iwan Aflanie, Ruslan Muhyi, and Eko Suhartono

,material
v Route in Degurnming of Bombyx Mory Silkwonn Cocon for 8iomateria1.............. ..............338
Tjokorda Gde Tirta Nindhia, I Wayan Surata, Zdenek Knejzlik, Tomas Ruml, and fiokorda Sari Nindhia


Journal of Medical and Bioengineering Vol. 4, No. 4, August 2015

New Route in Degumming of Bombyx Mory
Silkworm Cocon for Biomaterial
Tjokorda Gde Tirta Nindhia and I Wayan Surata
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Udayana University, Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia, 80361
E-mail: nindhia@yahoo.com, iwassura@gmail.com

Zdenek Knejzlik and Tomas Ruml
Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology of Prague , Technicka 5, 166 28
Pragua Czech Republic
E-mail: {Zdenek.Knejzlik, Tomas.Ruml}@vscht.cz

Tjokorda Sari Nindhia
Faculty of veterinary Madicine, Udayana University, Jl. P.B. Sudirman, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
E-mail: snindhia@yahoo.com

Abstract—This research focused on silkworm cocoon of
Bombyx mori grown in Indonesia. In this study the

It was proofed that Bombyx mori is suitable for 3-D
scaffolding material which is make possible for the cell
spread along the fiber and after that covered the entire
surface and grow to fill the gap to form the structure of
the tissue [2]. Silk also possible to be used as implants for
the healing of critical size of bone defects which
demonstrate the feasibility of silk-based implants with
engineered bone for the regeneration of bone tissues with
a mechanically stable and durable option [3].

degumming process to eliminate the sericin from the fiber
was explored and the result is a separated fiber that is tested
for its biocompatibility. The silk can be prepared by
degumming method of boiling in 0.01 M NaOH for 1 hour.
Observation under microsccope indicate that The human
osteosarcoma cell line (U2OS) able to attach and grow
during following two days. This is an indication that the
fiber having good biocompatibility by degumming process
that is introduced in this report.
Index Terms—bombyx mori, silkworm, cocoon, degumming,

biocompatibility

I.

INTRODUCTION

Some Lepidoptera larvae such as silkworm, spiders
produce fibers that are recognized as a silk [1]. Bombyx
mori (Fig. 1) is the most famous silk and have been
domesticated from ancient time. The mulberry leave (Fig.
2 ) is the preferred food for the Bombyx mori larvae. The
silkworm then will produce cocoon as depicted in Fig 3.
The appearance of Bombyx mori silk moth can be seen in
Fig. 4.
Beside well-known in textile production, Bombyx mori
of silkworm silk has been used as medical suture. Sutures
require the characteristics such as: Free from infection,
non-irritant, possible to be metabolized once its repair
function has been completed, the stiffness is change over
time, the ability to conform to the current stage of wound
repair, Knot strength, tensile strength to match the
clinical repair [1]. From just for medical suture, silk then
become point of interest by the researcher to provide
biomaterial for other purpose.


Figure 1. Silkworm larvae of Bombyx mori

Figure 2. Mulberry tree

Two major proteins contains in the silk that are sericin
(which is the coat and encased of the fiber) that hold

Manuscript received June 10, 2014; revised September 4, 2014.

©2015 Engineering and Technology Publishing
doi: 10.12720/jomb.4.4.338-341

338

Journal of Medical and Bioengineering Vol. 4, No. 4, August 2015

washed with distilled water to remove the sericine protein
and dried in hot air oven [5]. Usualy after this process it
is continued by dissolved in LiBr [6] or formic acid [7]. It
was also informed that degumming also possible by using
urea urea [8]. All degumming methods above mentioned
having advantages and disadvantages that the reader can
find it in the reference cited.
Degumming is also possible for removal of sericin by
using enzymes protease and lipase Enzyme degumming
involves the proteolytic degradation of sericin, using the
specific proteins with minimum effect on fibroin. When
the substrate molecule fits into the active sites of the
enzyme’s molecular structure to form an enzyme
substrate complex which is yields an end product and the
original enzyme molecule is reproduced. Enzymes
treatment operates under low temperatures and mild
conditions which reduce the energy consumption. The
disadvantage of this method is lower performance of
enzyme degummed silk including difficult to handle and
high cost. This condition limited the application of
enzymes on the silk industry [8]
The action of organic acids is generally less aggressive
than that of an action by alkali solution. Acidic agents
(tartaric acid or citric acid) for degumming was approved
for physical property enhancement. The action of organic
acids is generally less aggressive than that of an action by
alkali solution. the high performance on degumming is
achieved by tartaric acid in terms of sericin removal
efficiency and of intrinsic physico-mechanical
characteristics of silk fibers. In the case of critic acid for
degumming yield dry and wet resiliency of silk which
was remarkably increased with citric acid treatment but
acid causes the damage on the fibroin surface [8]

fibroin fiber together to form cocoon case in protect the
worm inside [1]. Sericin is antigenic gum-like protein
surrounding the fibers and fibroin is the core filaments of
silk comprised of b-sheet crystal regions and semicrystalline regions which is responsible for silk’s
elasticity [1].
The sericin induces hypersensitivity in patients,
causing a Type I allergic reaction. Exposure to silk debris
may sensitize patients to silk causing adverse allergic
reactions when silk is used as a suture material. Sericin
identified as the antigenic agent of silk and should be
removed through process of degumming [1]
Before further processing for biomaterial, the silk
usually should be degummed first in order to fine fiber
will be obtained. It is common for Bombyx morri cocoon
to be degummed by boiling in hot water bath. samples
were placed in beaker, and sufficient distilled water was
added to completely immerse the sample. The beaker was
heated in a hot water bath, and the samples were then
washed with heated distilled water [4]. But in practice
this technique will not eliminate the sericin in total as can
be seen in Fig. 5

Figure 3. Silkworm cocoon of Bombyx mori

Figure 5. result by degumming in boiling water. The sericin was not
totally eliminated

This research introduce new route in degumming of
silkworm cocoon of Bombyx mori as complement of our
previous work [9], [10], that can be used as alternative in
order best choice can be achieved with limited
disadvantages.

Figure 4. Silkworm moth Bombyx mori

Other protocols for degumming of the silk also already
established such as by using Na2CO3. Cocoons from
Bombyx mori were boiled for 1 h in an aqueous solution
Na2CO3, and rinsed with water to extract sericin and
other contaminating [3]. Other modification from this
technique is
Dried Bombyx mori silk cocoons were cut into small
pieces and treated with boiling aqueous solution of
sodium carbonate with stirring. The mass was repeatedly

©2015 Engineering and Technology Publishing

II.

EXPERIMENTAL

Bombyx mori cocoon obtained from local collector
from Indonesian source (fig.3) was incubated in water
and NaOH solution (two concentration were prepared:
0.01 M and 0.1 M) and boiled for 1 hour. The samples

339

Journal of Medical and Bioengineering Vol. 4, No. 4, August 2015

then were shaken for about 20 seconds. The insoluble
fiber then was washed in warm water (70oC) intensively.
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was utilized to
observe the structure of the fiber before and after
degumming. The results fibers were sterilized with 70%
ethanol for 1 day at room temperature. The samples were
washed by PBS and suspension of human osteosarcoma
cell line (U2OS) cell in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle's
cultivation medium and then weere soaked (in the
atmosphere (5% CO2 at 37oC and 95% humidity) for 2
hours. The cultivated medium was supplemented with
10% FBS. The cells were cultivated for 2 days. For
observation of the cell, the sample was taken out from
cultivation medium and transferred to PBS and washed.
Fluorescence microscope was utilized to observe the cell
growth (IX-71, Olympus Japan) as characteristic of
biocompatibility.
III.

(a)

As it is found by using only boiling water [4] for
degumming, then the sericin is not totally removed (fig.
4). Other effect is the tensile strength is found low [4].
This research should be continued to prove that by using
degumming method introduced in this report will also
increase the tensile strength.
Comparing with other method of degumming, as for
example by using Na2CO3 [3], [5], formic acid [7] and
urea [8], the method that is introduced in this research is
also possible to be introduced to other types of silk
cocoon such as from the species of Cricula trifenestrata
[9], [10] and also Attacus atlas [9] meanwhile in our
experience degumming by using Na2CO3, formic acid or
urea are not successful for degumming both cocoon of
Cricula trifenestrata and Attacus atlas. Other negative
side by using Na2CO3 is, sericin is emulsified by the soap
and finally, removed from the fibre. but, the presence of
soap and alkalis in the wastewater of degumming process
raise an issue of pollution. Besides, the degumming
cycles of the soap ash bath is limited because of acidity of
sericin hydrolysis products accumulating in the bath [8]
Other advantages of degumming method that is
introduced in this research is, it can shorten the process.
Other technique should initiate by boiling in water first
and then continued by the next process, meanwhile in the
technique which is introduced in this research is possible
without initiate by boiling water. So that it can shorten
the process for the benefit of production cost.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The efficient removal of the sericin coat was observed
after treatment by 0.01 M NaOH as presented in Fig. 6a
and Fig 7b. By using 0.1 M NaOH resulting crashed fiber
which is indication of strong hydrolysis of fibers, there
fore not recommended (Fig. 6b).

(a)

(b)

Figure 8. Cell growth on Bombyx mori fibers obtained by degumming
of cocoon by using 0.01 M NaOH. (a) bright field. (b) After cell
fixation, nuclei were stained using DAPI and analyzed by fluorescence
microscopy

(b)

Figure 6. (a).After treatment by 0.01 M NaOH, (b). By using 0.1 M
NaOH resulting crashed fiber which is indication of strong hydrolysis of
fibers

It was found that the cells are able to attach and grow
on Bombyx mori fiber released from cocoon by 0.01 M
NaOH during following two days base on observation
under microscope. This is an indication that the fiber
having good biocompatibility (Fig. 8). Our previous
report [10] also informed that deguming by using 0.01 M
NaOH also resulting good deguming result to other type
of cocoon (Cricula trifenestrata ) and resulting positive
indication for biocompatibility.

IV.

CONCLUSION

The new route in degumming silk of Bombyx mori is
established in this research. The silk is prepared by
degumming method of boiling in 0.01 M NaOH in 1 hour.
The human osteosarcoma cell line (U2OS) able to attach
and grow during following two days. This is an indication
that the fiber having good biocompatibility by
degumming process that is introduced in this research.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

(a)

The authors acknowledge financial support received
from Directorate General of Higher Education of The
Ministry Education and Culture The Republic of
Indonesia trough Scheme of International research
collaboration (Penelitian Kerjasama Luar Negri) under

(b)

Figure 7. Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) of the Bombyx mori
silk fiber (a) condition before degumming as obtained from our previous
publication [9]. (b) after degumming with 0.01m NaOH

©2015 Engineering and Technology Publishing

340

Journal of Medical and Bioengineering Vol. 4, No. 4, August 2015

wild silkworm cocoon,” in Proc. Seminar Tahunan Teknik mesin
XI (SNTTM XI) & Thermofluid IV, Universitas Gadjah Mada
(UGM) Yogyakarta, 16-17 Oktober 2012
[10] T. G. T. Nindhia, Z. Knejzlik, T. Ruml, T. S. Nindhia, “Tensile
properties and biocompatibility of indonesian wild silk cricula
trifenestrata: A preliminary study,” Journal of Medical and
Bioengineering , vol. 3, no.2, June 2014

contract number: 238-40/UN14.2/PNI.01.03.00/2014.
This work also supported by Czech Science Foundation
project P108/12/G108 trough Institute of Chemical
Technology of Prague which is also very much
acknowledged. Special thank addressed to Prof. Ing.
Katerina Demnerova, CSc. Together with Ing. Jan Lipov,
Ph.D For the permission to use all research facility in the
Department of Biochemical and Microbiology Institute
technology of Prague, Czech Republic

Tjokorda Gde Tirta Nindhia Was born in
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia on January 16th,
1972. Received Doctor Degree in Mechanical
Engineering from Gadjah Mada University
(UGM) Yogyakarta, Indonesia on August
2003, with major field of study was Material
Engineering.
He participated in various international
research collaboration such as with Muroran
Institute of Technology Japan (2004),
Toyohashi University of Technology Japan (2006), Leoben Mining
University Austria (2008-2009), Technical University of Vienna Austria
(2010) and Recently with Institute Chemical technology of Prague
Czech Republic (2012-now). His current job is as Full Professor in the
field of Material Engineering at Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Engineering Faculty, Udayana University, Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia.
His research interest covering subjects such as, biomaterial, waste
recycle, failure analyses, ceramic, metallurgy, composite, renewable
energy, and environmental friendly manufacturing.

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©2015 Engineering and Technology Publishing

Tomas Ruml . is full professor at Faculty of Food and Biochemical
Technology, Technicka 5, 166 28 Pragua Czech Republic
Zdenek Knejzlik. Is senior researcher at Faculty of Food and
Biochemical Technology, Technicka 5, 166 28 Pragua Czech Republic
I Wayan Surata was born in Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia on July 5,
1958. Received Doctor Degree in the field of Ergonomic from Udayana
University in 2011. His research interest very much related in process of
manufacture. His Current job is researcher and lecturer at Department of
Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Faculty, Udayana University,
Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia.
Tjokorda Sari Nindhia is Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at
faculty of Veterinary Medicine Udayana University, Bali, Indonesia
since 1999. Finishing her master degree at biotechnology and
biomolecular at postgraduate studies Udayana University in 2010

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