METHOD FOR SOLUBILIZING AND MOLDING COCOON SILK, ARTIFICIAL ORGAN MADE OF COCOON SILK, AND MEDICAL ELEMENT MADE OF COCOON SILK

摘要

PURPOSE:To provide the subject method for forming a harmless practical transparent homogeneous thin film or solid from a cocoon silk solution (a solution of fibroin and/or sericin), and to obtain the subject organ, and the subject element. CONSTITUTION:The method comprises dissolving silkworm cocoon or silkworm silk in a haloacetic acid containing a fluoroacetic acid such as CnF2n+1COOH (wherein (n) is an integer), pouring the formed gel-like substance into a mold or applying it in the form of a rod, solidifying it into a specified form, and washing the solidified molding with water. The silkworm cocoon or silkworm silk also include raw silk. The haloacetic acid is one represented by the formula: CnR2n+1COOH (wherein R is a halogen atom, and (n) is an integer, desirably 1-3, more desirably 1), desirably a fluoroacetic acid.