Sericin Protein Extraction from Attacus atlas Cocoon and Its Characterization as a Biomaterial

Abstract

The high sericin production is mostly determined by extraction method (degumming and serisin protein isolation). Sericin protein was extracted from silk wastewater by protein isolation with 75% (v/v) ethanol. Silk wastewaters was produced from degumming of cocoon Attacus atlas with 33,3% NaOH 0,25 N. Sericin protein extraction from Attacus atlas not only use a combination of temperature and time, but need a strong solvent for extracting sericin, strong bases such as NaOH. This research has been get the best extraction method to produce the highest sericin protein by optimization of protein extraction with response surface methodology (RSM). Stationary point at 129oC and 70,36 minute can produce maximum percentage of protein yields (± 19%). The molecular weight distribution of sericin was investigated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). The results suggested that sericin represented wide ranging molecular weight distribution (8,24-73,30 kDa). The amino acid of sericin was investigated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analytical methods that result highest component of Attacus atlas sericin is glysine (24,64%). Amino acids of sericin contains polar groups (50,72%) and non polar groups (49,28%). Sericin has wide applications as a biomaterial in medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic. One of them as a surfactant material with the ability to reduce water surface tension of 71,67 dyne/cm to 51,8 ± 1,3 dyne/cm on the sericin addition of 0,58 ± 0,01 mg/ml.