Enhanced Stabilization in Dried Silk Fibroin Matrices

Biomacromolecules. 2017 Sep 11;18(9):2900-2905. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.7b00857. Epub 2017 Aug 23.

Abstract

Preliminary studies have shown that silk fibroin can protect biomacromolecules from thermal degradation, but a deeper understanding of underlying mechanisms needed to fully leverage the stabilizing potential of this matrix has not been realized. In this study, we investigate stabilization of plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), a diagnostic indicator of infection or inflammation, to gain insight into stabilizing mechanisms of silk. We observed that the addition of antiplasticizing excipients that suppress β-relaxation amplitudes in silk matrices resulted in enhanced stability of plasma CRP. These observations are consistent with those made in sugar-glass-based protein-stabilizing matrices and suggest fundamental insight into mechanisms as well as practical strategies to employ with silk protein matrices for enhanced stabilization utility.

MeSH terms

  • C-Reactive Protein / chemistry*
  • Fibroins / chemistry*
  • Glycerol / chemistry
  • Protein Stability
  • Sucrose / chemistry

Substances

  • Sucrose
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Fibroins
  • Glycerol