家蚕丝素蛋白是一种天然高分子蛋白质,分子质量是丝素蛋白的重要特征参数之一。本文综述了与丝素蛋白分子质量研究有关的工作进展,包括现今测定丝素蛋白分子质量的4种主要方法(即凝胶电泳法、凝胶过滤色谱法、粘度法和光散射法)的基本原理、特点与适用范围,以及分子质量对再生丝素蛋白的力学性能、缓释特性和生物相容性的影响等,并在此基础上讨论了该领域研究中存在的问题及今后的研究方向,旨在为丝素蛋白的深入研究与广泛应用提供一定的参考和借鉴。
Silk fibroin is a kind of natural high polymer proteins. Its molecular weight acts as one of the important parameters of silk fibroin. This review focuses on research progress related to measuring molecular weight of silk fibroin, including fundamental principles, characteristics and application ranges of the four major approaches to determine the molecular weight of silk fibroin (i.e. gel electrophoresis, gel filtration chromatography, viscometry and light scattering), and effects of molecular weight of regenerated silk fibroin on the mechanical properties, sustained-release property and bio- compatibility. Moreover, existing problems and future perspectives in this area were discussed to provide references and experiences for further studies and wide applications of silk fibroin.