Silk sericin-based materials for biomedical applications

Jia Liu; Lin Shi; Yan Deng; Meizhen Zou; Bo Cai; Yu Song; Zheng Wang; Lin Wang

doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121638

Silk sericin-based materials for biomedical applications

Biomaterials. 2022 Aug:287:121638. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121638. Epub 2022 Jun 17.

Authors

Jia Liu¹, Lin Shi¹, Yan Deng², Meizhen Zou², Bo Cai¹, Yu Song¹, Zheng Wang³, Lin Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
² Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
³ Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China; Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. Electronic address: zhengwang@hust.edu.cn.
⁴ Research Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. Electronic address: lin_wang@hust.edu.cn.

PMID: 35921729
DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121638

Abstract

Silk sericin, a natural protein extracted from silkworm cocoons, has been extensively studied and utilized in the biomedical field because of its superior biological activities and controllable chemical-physical properties. Sericin is biocompatible and naturally cell adhesive, enabling cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation in sericin-based materials. Moreover, its abundant functional groups from variable amino acids composition allow sericin to be chemically modified and cross-linked to form versatile constructs serving as alternative matrixes for biomedical applications. Recently, sericin has been constructed into various types of biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, including various bulk constructions (films, hydrogels, scaffolds, conduits, and devices) and micro-nano formulations. In this review, we systemically summarize the properties of silk sericin, introduce its different forms, and demonstrate their newly-developed as well as potential biomedical applications.

Keywords: Biomaterials; Drug delivery; Silk sericin; Tissue engineering.

Publication types

Review