A scientific seminar on the topic "FTIR Analysis of Molecular and Structural Changes in TiO₂-Fibroin Composites" will be held at the Institute of Biophysics

A scientific seminar titled “FTIR Analysis of Molecular and Structural Changes in TiO₂-Fibroin Composites” will be held on June 25, 2025, at 11:30 AM at the Institute of Biophysics, Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Afsana Huseynova, a research fellow from the "Structure, Dynamics, and Function of Biomolecules" Laboratory, will deliver a presentation at the seminar.

We kindly invite you to attend the seminar.

Summary:

The integration of nanostructured titanium dioxide (TiO₂) into fibroin-based biomaterials presents a promising strategy for enhancing their structural and functional properties. In this study, fibroin extracted from the cocoons of Bombyx mori silkworms was combined with nano-anatase TiO₂, which has a particle size of 5 nm and a specific surface area of 480–650 m²/g, to prepare TiO₂-fibroin composites at various concentrations (0.1%–10%).

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy was applied to analyze molecular interactions and structural changes. Significant shifts were observed in the FTIR spectra, particularly in the Amide I (from 1650 cm⁻¹ to 1620 cm⁻¹) and Amide II (1515 cm⁻¹) bands, indicating strong TiO₂–fibroin interactions, especially at lower TiO₂ concentrations. A shift in N–H stretching vibration (from 3280 cm⁻¹ to 3240 cm⁻¹) suggested changes in hydrogen bonding and β-structure stability, while the Ti–O–Ti vibrations observed at 820 cm⁻¹ confirmed the successful incorporation of TiO₂ into the fibroin matrix.

The enhanced hydrophilicity and structural modifications highlight the potential of TiO₂-fibroin composites for applications in biomedical materials, wound healing, and drug delivery. These findings demonstrate that TiO₂-fibroin composites possess tunable properties suitable for various bioengineering applications.