were prepared as previously described.63 (link)
composition of the formulation buffers developed herein. For each,
stock solutions were prepared. The specified components were dissolved
in ultrapure water (ELGA LabWater, High Wycombe, UK) in a glass vial
(Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) and mixed by means
of vortex and sonication for 30 min at 25 °C.
Ionogel formulations were prepared by stirring each
IL with silk
fibroin solution at 25 °C, and the desired formulation buffer
(
dropwise to achieve a silk fibroin/formulation buffer/IL ratio of
1:1.6:12.8, by weight. In the absence of IL, systems contained a silk
fibroin/formulation buffer ratio of 1:1.6 by weight and prepared as
before. To produce the PVP inclusive formulations, silk fibroin and
PVP were mixed at a ratio of 1:1 by weight, and the desired formulation
buffer in the presence and absence of IL was added as before. Each
system developed herein consisted of 4 mg/mL of phenobarbital. Sodium
hydroxide and hydrochloric acid were added dropwise to obtain a formulation
pH of 6.5; ensured by pH measurement with the pH electrode Mettler
Toledo InLab Micro (Wolflabs, Pocklington, York, UK).