Silk fibroin has the characteristics of good biocompatibility, mechanical properties, degradation performance and easy shaping, which makes silk fibroin become the focus of biomedical material preparation and research, and has received extensive attention. This article reviews the prior art methods of silk fibroin degumming, dissolution and regeneration processing. The specific applications of silk fibroin materials in the field of biomedical materials are reviewed, and the application prospects of silk fibroin in the field of biomedical materials are prospected.
Biocompatible Materials ; Fibroins

Recently, drug delivery materials have become the hotspot of medical study. Suitable delivery material plays an important role in constructing an excellent drug delivery system. Silk fibroin is a naturally occurring protein polymer with excellent biocompatibility, remarkable mechanical properties, biodegradability and outstanding processability. Due to its unique properties, silk fibroin has become a favorable carrier material for the incorporation and delivery of a range of therapeutic agents. Based on the structure and characteristics of silk fibroin, this article provides an overview of the recent research progress of silk fibroin used as drug delivery materials.
Biocompatible Materials ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Fibroins ; chemistry

For a long period of time, silk fibroin has been applied in biomedical areas. Along with the development of biotechnology, new functions of silk fibroin are being found and developed. From the suture of surgery to the therapeutic drug and the ordinary tissue engineering frame to high grade frame with drug buffer system, exploitation of silk fibroin is constantly introduced with something new from the old ones. In our review, we summarize the applications of silk fibroin in tissue engineering, drug buffer system and medical care.
Fibroins ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Tissue Engineering

With the development of tissue engineering, a variety of forms of silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds has been applied to research of constructing variety of organization based on cells, which has become scientific focus in recent years. In this paper we introduced the source and structure of SF and the fabrication method of the scaffold, and also address the SF application progress in several relevant fields of tissue engineering, such as bone, cartilage, skin, blood vessel and nerves. Finally, we discuss the future leading prospect of the SF in order to provide reference for subsequent research.
Fibroins ; Humans ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

OBJECTIVES: The silk patch is a thin transparent patch that is produced from silk fibroin. In this study, we investigated the treatment effects of the silk patch in patients with traumatic tympanic membrane perforation (TTMP). METHODS: The closure rate, otorrhea rate, and closure time in all patients and the closure time in successful patients were compared between the paper patch and silk patch groups. RESULTS: Demographic data (gender, site, age, traumatic duration, preoperative air-bone gap, and perforation size and location) were not significantly different between the two groups. The closure rate and otorrhea rate were not significantly different between the two groups. However, the closure time was different between the two groups (closure time of all patients, P=0.031; closure time of successful patients, P=0.037). CONCLUSION: The silk patch which has transparent, elastic, adhesive, and hyper-keratinizing properties results in a more efficient closure time than the paper patch in the treatment of TTMP patients. We therefore believe that the silk patch should be recommended for the treatment of acute tympanic membrane perforation.
Adhesives ; Ear, Middle ; Fibroins ; Humans ; Silk* ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation*

To study the effect of physiological conditions on spidroins, we analyzed NTR1SR2CT module secondary structure, aggregation and silk-formation influenced by different salts (in different concentration intervals). According to the full-length Araneus ventricosus MiSp sequence, NTR1SR2CT module was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), and the recombinant proteins were purified by denaturation method mediated by 8 mol/L urea. Random coil and helix are the main secondary structures of NTR1SR2CT and could be induced into beta-sheet by drying natively and lyophilization, where methanol can be used as a promoter. Furthermore, potassium and phosphate cations can cause significant NTR1SR2CT protein aggregation and silk-formation. The results could be a basis for the determination of silk-formation mechanism, and also useful for industrialized generation of high performance spider silk-like fibers.
Animals ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Protein Structure, Secondary ; Salts ; chemistry ; Spiders

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to prepare oriented scaffolds derived from a cartilage extracellular matrix (CECM) and silk fibroin (SF) and use to investigate their physicochemical property in cartilage tissue engineering. METHODS: Oriented SF-CECM scaffolds were prepared from 6% mixed slurry (CECM：SF=1：1) through modified temperature gradient-guided thermal-induced phase separation, followed by freeze drying. The SF-CECM scaffolds were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histological staining analyses and determination of porosity, water absorption, and compressive elastic modulus of the materials. RESULTS: The SEM image showed that the SF-CECM scaffolds contained homogeneous reticular porous structures in the cross-section and vertical tubular structures in the longitudinal sections. Histological staining showed that cells were completely removed, and the hybrid scaffolds retained proteogly can and collagen. The composition of the scaffold was similar to that of natural cartilage. The porosity, water absorption rate, and vertical compressive elastic modulus of the scaffolds were 95.733%±1.010%, 94.309%±1.302%, and (65.40±4.09) kPa, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The fabricated SF-CECM scaffolds exhibit satisfactory physicochemical and biomechanical properties and thus could be an ideal scaffold in cartilage tissue engineering.
Cartilage ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibroins ; Porosity ; Silk ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds

PURPOSE: This study was designed to compare the bond regeneratiom effects of treatment using silk fibroin membrane ( Nanogide-S (R)) resorbable barrier with control group treated by polyactic acid / polylacticglycolic acid membrane(Biomesh (R) ) METHODS:44 severe bone loss on extraction socket from 44 patients were used in this study. In experimental group 22 sites of them were treated by silk fibrin membrane as and the other 22 sites were treated by polyactic acid/ polylacticglycolic acid membrane as a control group. Clinical parameters including recovered bone width, length and radiographic parameter of vertical length were evlauated at base line and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: 1) Severe bone width, length was significantlly decreased in two group. 2) Bone width, length was significantlly decreased in two group. 3) Decreased bone width, length and radiographic examination differences between group. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, silk fibrin resorbable membrane has similar bone regeneration ability to polyactic acid / polylacticglycolic acid membrane in guided bone regeneration for severe bone loss defect on extraction socket.
Bone Regeneration ; Fibrin ; Fibroins ; Humans ; Lactic Acid ; Membranes ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Regeneration ; Silk

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the bone regenerative effect of silk fibroin mixed with platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) of a bone defect in rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten New Zealand white rabbits were used for this study and bilateral round shaped defects were formed in the parietal bone (diameter: 8.0 mm). The silk fibroin mixed with PRF was grafted into the right parietal bone (experimental group). The left side (control group) was grafted only PRF. The animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. A micro-computerized tomography (microCT) of each specimen was taken. Subsequently, the specimens were decalcified and stained for histological analysis. RESULTS: The average value of plane film analysis was higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 4 weeks and 8weeks after surgery. However, the difference was not statistically significant.(P>0.05) The tissue mineral density (TMD) in the experimental group at 4 weeks after surgery was significantly higher than the control group.(P<0.05) CONCLUSION: Silk fibroin can be used as a scaffold of PRF for rabbit calvarial defect repair.
Animals ; Bone Regeneration ; Fibrin ; Fibroins ; Parietal Bone ; Rabbits ; Silk ; Skull ; Transplants

Since neurotrophic factor is easy to degrade and aggregate, it usually has a short half-life in vitro. To overcome this shortage, neurotrophic factor has been combined with the silk fibroin (SF) membrane to realize less degradation, optimal loading efficiency, sustained release, and good adsorption. By optimizing its binding conditions, main parameters were investigated and its optimal loading efficiency was obtained. bFGF was combined to SF membrane by layer by layer (LbL) static adsorption technique. The natural and nontoxic chondroitin sulfate (CS) was used as a crosslinking agent. Optimization was carried out in three aspects: the concentration of bFGF, the concentration of CS, and the reaction time. This experiment provides a better environment for the growth of cells and offers a new kind material of absorbing neurotrophic factor to meet increasing demand for biological materials.
Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; chemistry ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; PC12 Cells ; Rats