Fabrication of silk fibroin/eggshell nanofiber membranes for facemasks

We report our study on fabrication of soluble eggshell membrane (SESM) and silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers composite (SF/SESM) for facemasks by electrospinning. Biocompatibility of the SF and SESM, determined from hydrophilicity results, is exploited in SF/SESM nanocomposite for facemask application. The SF/SESM nanocomposites were prepared in different ratios of SF and SESM. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FTIR and water droplet adsorption tests conducted via water contact angle (WCA) and water droplet diffusion. The results revealed that addition of SESM has insignificant effect on the electrospinnability of SF nanofibers in the studied ratios. The SEM results depicted regular morphology of the nanofibers except increase in nanofiber diameter with addition of SESM. The FTIR results confirmed respective peaks of SF and SESM in SF/SESM nanocomposite. WCA of the nanofibers decreased with addition of SESM such that for SF/SESM30, 30 % SESM, it reduced to 0 ° from 101 ° for pure SF nanofibers. The research results demonstrate SF/SESM30 nanocomposite as optimum ratio of SF and SESM for facemasks and other biomedical applications.