Exceptional robustness of <em>Saturnia japonica</em> cocoon for protection
발표자
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초록
내용
A pestiferous wild silkworm Saturnia japonica (SJ) inhabits eastern Asia constructing cocoons with specific morphology compared to the Bombyx mori (BM). Knitting a protective cocoon is crucial for SJ to protect themselves in nature. Genuinely, the SJ cocoon shows higher mechanical stability than the BM cocoon. Herein, hardening components of the cocoon (sericin and brownish pigments) are extracted from the SJ cocoon. Afterward, the interaction forces between hardening components are investigated using a surface forces apparatus (SFA) in various pH. The SJ extracts show ~200% higher interaction forces than BM sericin. Notably, the outermost pigments of SJ cocoons seem to contribute to higher cohesive forces. The superior cohesive properties are possibly induced by the higher number of binding sites and synergistic interaction. Here, we identify the outstanding cohesive properties of SJ cocoon extracts and suggest they could be used for eco-friendly biomaterials or adhesive binders.