Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hai-Yan Wang, Yu-Qing Zhang, Zheng-Guo Wei
Summary: This study compared undegraded SF and degraded SF, finding differences in viscosity, surface tension, and elongation between the two. SEM analysis revealed both uSF and dSF existed in aqueous solution as micelles with a diameter of approximately 30 nm. In terms of catalytic activity and cell culture, degraded SF showed better performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Giorgio Rizzo, Marco Lo Presti, Cinzia Giannini, Teresa Sibillano, Antonella Milella, Giulia Guidetti, Roberta Musio, Fiorenzo G. Omenetto, Gianluca M. Farinola
Summary: Silk Fibroin (SF) obtained from Bombyx mori can be processed into scaffolds from aqueous solutions using chaotropic salts. By modifying the standard Ajisawa's method with CeCl3, it is possible to regenerate SF as a fibrous material with an ordered structure and doped with Ce+3 ions. Lanthanide ions are found to solubilize SF and favor the reprecipitation of fibrous SF, making them potential candidates for developing new photonic systems.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Polymer Science
Anna Tuwalska, Sylwia Grabska-Zielinska, Alina Sionkowska
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances in the field of chitosan and silk fibroin blends as new biomaterials. These blends have attracted attention from both academia and industry, but have not been summarized in a review paper yet.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huihui Lu, Jiale Wang, Jun Li, Bingbing Gao, Bingfang He
Summary: Microneedles made of silk fibroin show great potential as a transdermal drug delivery system due to their minimal invasiveness, painlessness, and on-demand drug release capabilities. This review summarizes the recent research progress of silk fibroin microneedles, including their materials, processing technology, detection, drug release methods, and applications. Furthermore, the multidimensional research and development of silk fibroin are analyzed, and it is expected that silk fibroin microneedles will have excellent development prospects in various fields.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
L. Mogas-Soldevila, G. Matzeu, M. Lo Presti, F. G. Omenetto
Summary: Biomaterial composites based on reformulated silk protein offer new routes for environmentally friendly leather-like materials by controlling silk protein conformations, introducing other materials and natural additives, and utilizing computerized fabrication. These materials are strong, soft, pliable, durable, and biodegradable, with the ability to embed active molecules for sensing the surrounding environment.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Sylwia Grabska-Zielinska, Alina Sionkowska
Summary: This review provides an overview of the recent advances in silk fibroin (SF) biopolymer and its blends with other biopolymers as new biomaterials, highlighting the improved physico-chemical properties and potential applications in the biomedical field. The review also discusses the structure, forms, preparation methods, and some physico-chemical properties of silk fibroin-based mixtures, showcasing examples of binary and ternary mixtures with the addition of various components. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of different cross-linking methods are also presented.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Alessandra Maria Bossi, Alessio Bucciarelli, Devid Maniglio
Summary: Nanosized biomimetics prepared by molecular imprinting are showing potential as plastic antibodies in medicine for cell imaging and targeted therapies. Utilizing natural polymer silk fibroin to synthesize biocompatible MIP SF-NPs demonstrates high affinity recognition sites and biocompatibility.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yeshi Liang, Aleksandr Mitriashkin, Ting Ting Lim, James Cho-Hong Goh
Summary: The study demonstrates the significant potential of electrospun mats incorporating conductive PPy-encapsulated SF for cardiac tissue engineering, with good mechanical properties and electrical conductivity. Different types of cardiomyocytes exhibit varying contraction characteristics on the hybrid mats, while external stimulation can enhance contraction synchrony.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minghui Li, Jiaqian You, Qiuyue Qin, Manxuan Liu, Yixin Yang, Kewen Jia, Yidi Zhang, Yanmin Zhou
Summary: Bone tissue engineering (BTE) utilizes silk fibroin (SF) to regulate bone regeneration and stimulate bone formation. SF is a promising material due to its tunable mechanical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. This review introduces the structure and characteristics of SF, summarizes its immunological mechanism for osteogenesis, and emphasizes the various forms of SF biomaterials and their development prospects in BTE. Biomaterials based on SF have great potential in bone tissue engineering, and this review guides future design and research.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Prerak Gupta, Biman B. Mandal
Summary: Vascular tissue engineering is focusing on finding biologically active substitutes with in situ growth potential, with silk biomaterials showing remarkable potential due to their favorable biological and mechanical properties.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hai-Yan Wang, Yu-Qing Zhang, Zheng-Guo Wei
Summary: Silk fibroin from silkworm Bombyx mori has been extensively researched and applied in various fields in recent decades, including cosmetics, biomedicine, and biomaterials. Dissolution and regeneration of SF fibers is crucial for the application of silk protein-based materials, and the process directly impacts the characteristics and mechanical properties of resulting silk biomaterials. This review summarizes common solvents and dissolution methods for silk protein, properties of resulting SF protein, suitable uses of SF dissolved in corresponding solvents, and recent applications of SF in various biomaterials.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ziyang Zhou, Jin Cui, Shunli Wu, Zhen Geng, Jiacan Su
Summary: Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease that causes physical and psychological harm to patients and burdens the healthcare system. Tissue engineering has been focusing on cartilage repair, with silk fibroin as a promising biomaterial due to its unique properties and capabilities for functional modification.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Federica Paladini, Mauro Pollini
Summary: Bone tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary research field that aims to create biological substitutes for bone regeneration. The selection of appropriate biomaterials and structures remains a challenge, and silk fibroin is considered a valuable option due to its unique biological properties and processability.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisco Vieira dos Santos, Renato Luiz Siqueira, Lucas de Morais Ramos, Sergio Akinobu Yoshioka, Marcia Cristina Branciforti, Daniel Souza Correa
Summary: This review highlights the versatile application of silk fibroin (SF)-derived electrospun materials in tissue regeneration, disease treatment, and drug delivery systems, as well as explores potential future trends and limitations.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2024)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia N. Fountain, Morgan J. Hawker, Lauren Hartle, Junqi Wu, Vittorio Montanari, Jugal Kishore Sahoo, Luke M. Davis, David L. Kaplan, Krishna Kumar
Summary: Silk fibroin protein is a biomaterial widely used in stents, catheters, and wound dressings due to its excellent biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. By installing perfluorocarbon chains on the surface of silk fibroin, it can be transformed into a highly hydrophobic polymer with solvent-casting capability, enhancing its application potential.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ana Tinoco, Madalena Martins, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Artur Ribeiro
Summary: This article discusses the effects of protein-based cosmetics on hair properties and highlights their positive role in protecting hair and modifying hair fibers. In the future, incorporating multifunctional proteins and peptides into hair formulation development will lead to advanced, sustainable, and eco-friendly cosmetic products with a significant impact on the cosmetic industry.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Yu Li, Jennifer Noro, Jie Li, Carla Silva, Jing Su, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
Summary: The laccase-assisted grafting of poly(tyrosine) enhances the shrink-resistant properties of wool materials, despite causing some loss of crystallinity and thermal resistance during the grafting process. The new bonds established between the oxidation products and the amino groups of wool significantly improve both the shrinkage properties and mechanical behavior.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tarsila G. Castro, Tiago Ferreira, Teresa Matama, Florentina-Daniela Munteanu, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
Summary: This study investigated the effects of acetylation and phosphorylation on the function of Tau protein using molecular modelling techniques. The results showed that these post-translational modifications alter the charge state of Tau protein and interfere with its ability to bind microtubules, providing important insights for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENERAL SUBJECTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xue Yang, Jing Zhao, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Jing Su, Hongbo Wang
Summary: Enzyme immobilization provides enhanced stability for laccase and improves the adsorption and degradation efficiency of pollutants. In this study, bimetallic Cu/Zn ZIFs were used as a protective carrier for laccase, showing high operational stability and efficient decolorization of dye wastewater. The encapsulated laccase could be recovered and reused multiple times, indicating great potential for water remediation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Tiago Ferreira, Ana Loureiro, Jennifer Noro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Tarsila G. Castro
Summary: This study introduces a computational methodology for researching silicone alternatives and measures their structural performance in formulations. It also develops an equilibration protocol to determine their distribution and densities compared to their counterparts using molecular dynamics simulations. Testing two systems, it concludes that all systems converge towards micelle-like structures.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Diana Rocha, David S. Freitas, Jessica Magalhaes, Mariana Fernandes, Sonia Silva, Jennifer Noro, Artur Ribeiro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Madalena Martins, Carla Silva
Summary: The demand for products based on natural ingredients is increasing among cosmetic and textile consumers. Cork extracts contain components of interest with special properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities, that might improve the effectiveness of cosmetic formulations currently on the market and may impart new characteristics to textiles.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David S. Freitas, Vania Quesado, Diana Rocha, Jennifer Noro, Madalena Martins, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: In this study, the enzymatic synthesis was employed as a sustainable approach for producing polyesters, aiming to reduce toxicity and operational costs. The use of NADES as a source of monomers for polymerization reactions catalyzed by lipase was detailed. The high conversion rates (above 70%) and simplicity of production, along with the non-toxicity and low cost of NADES, make them a greener and cleaner option for synthesizing high value-added products.
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Euijin Shim, Carla Silva, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Hye Rim Kim
Summary: This study investigated the effects of modifying bacterial cellulose as a template on the in situ polymerization of catechol by laccase. The modification involved sulfonation and the entrapment of carboxymethyl cellulose. After the in situ polymerization, conductive and colored bacterial cellulose composites were obtained. The results suggest the potential of modified bacterial cellulose as a template for the formation of functional polymers and composite materials.
TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Yu Li, Jing Su, Tarsila G. Castro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
Summary: Commercial hair perming damages both hair fiber quality and human health due to the use of strong reducing agents. This study demonstrates the use of tyrosine as a cross-linking agent for reshaping hair by breaking disulfide bonds and rearranging new bonds between keratin molecules. The results show that tyrosine can successfully cross-link amines and thiols, providing a potential alternative to commercial perming products. This new methodology offers a gentle and user-friendly approach in the hair care industry.
JOURNAL OF NATURAL FIBERS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tarsila G. Castro, Manuel Melle-Franco, Cristina E. A. Sousa, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Joao C. Marcos
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of non-canonical amino acids and their applications in designing peptidomimetics. These amino acids are widely found in nature and can enhance stability and biological function. Experimental and molecular modeling approaches are used to classify different classes of non-canonical amino acids based on their ability to induce specific secondary structures. This knowledge is crucial in the field of peptidomimetics, which has the potential to develop new bioactive molecules and materials.
Review
Biology
Bruno Fernandes, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Teresa Matama
Summary: The use of permanent hair dyes to change natural hair color is associated with fiber damage and an increased risk of health problems. The future of hair dyeing may involve modulating pigment production in specialized cells called melanocytes located in the hair roots. This paper critically reviews mammalian pigmentation biology to develop innovative cosmetics that can safely change hair color from the inside out.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David S. Freitas, Vania Quesado, Diana Rocha, Jennifer Noro, Madalena Martins, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: This study presents a detailed investigation on the feasibility of synthesizing polyesters through lipase-catalyzed esterification using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) as the source of monomers in an anhydrous medium. Three different NADES composed of glycerol and an organic base or acid were used for the synthesis of polyesters, and high conversion rates (above 70%) and at least 20 monomeric units (glycerol:organic acid/base 1:1) were achieved according to matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) analysis.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Nannan Li, David S. Freitas, Joana Santos, Armando Venancio, Jennifer Noro, Jing Su, Hongbo Wang, Carla Silva, Artur Cavaco-Paulo
Summary: The development of products from natural plant sources is crucial for the circular economy and global sustainability. This study focused on using cork and grape wastes to obtain valuable compounds through mild extraction and laccase oxidation. The polymeric compounds obtained showed remarkable antioxidant and antiaging properties, indicating great potential for applications in various industries.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
David S. Freitas, Diana Rocha, Jennifer Noro, Tarsila G. Castro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: This study investigated different natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) as solvents for laccase-assisted polymerization of catechol and phenolics from coffee. The results showed that NADES could be a green and cost-effective solvent for the bioproduction of novel polymers.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Diana Rocha, David S. Freitas, Tarsila G. Castro, Jennifer Noro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Carla Silva
Summary: This study investigates the effect of water on the physicochemical properties and structural features of glycerol:lactic acid deep eutectic mixture. The results demonstrate that when water enters the system, the hydrogen bonds between the eutectic components break but new ones are formed, creating stronger interactions. These unprecedented results unravel the potential of these novel mixtures for multiple applications.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
