Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Min Ru, Shuiqing Zhou, Jiahui Hua, Renyan Huang, Shuqin Yan, Qiang Zhang
Summary: In this study, a controllable oxygen generator coated with silk fibroin was prepared, using poly [lactic-co-(glycolic acid)] as the shell layer and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as the core layer. This provides a reliable strategy for preparing oxygen-releasing materials for medical or non-medical applications.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Peng Zhang, Yusheng Sun, Haizhen Yang, Dong Liu, Feng Zhang, Yu Zhang, Wentao Zhong, Baoqi Zuo, Zhiqiang Zhou
Summary: In this study, a vancomycin delivery system for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis was developed by entrapping silk fibroin microspheres loaded with vancomycin in an injectable silk hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibited sustained release of vancomycin for up to 25 days and showed strong antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus for 10 days without decrease in efficacy. Injection of the vancomycin-loaded silk fibroin microspheres entrapped in the hydrogel into the infected site of rat tibia resulted in reduced bone infection and improved bone regeneration as compared to other treatment groups.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Tao Wang, Yuqi Li, Jian Liu, Yan Fang, Wenjun Guo, Yu Liu, Xiangyu Li, Gang Li, Xiuli Wang, Zhaozhu Zheng, Xiaoqin Wang, David L. Kaplan
Summary: A silk fibroin hydrogel with high elasticity, anti-fatigue properties, and stable structure and mechanical strength in aqueous solution was prepared using a chemical crosslinker. The hydrogel showed biocompatibility and served as a bio-lubricant for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xiao Wu, Liming Ge, Guohua Shen, Ying He, Zhilang Xu, Defu Li, Changdao Mu, Lei Zhao, Wenjie Zhang
Summary: In this study, I-131-labeled silk fibroin microspheres were developed as radioembolization material for TARE therapy against HCC. These microspheres exhibited high labeling rate and stability, and showed favorable biodistribution and biosafety in vivo. The combination of embolization and local radiotherapy using I-131-SFMs demonstrated a promising inhibitive effect against HCC progression.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xiang Huang, Qiang Fu, Yaxin Deng, Fuping Wang, Bin Xia, Zhongmin Chen, Guobao Chen
Summary: The study prepared hemostatic microspheres with different degrees of surface roughness through emulsion cross-linking, showing that SF/SA2 microspheres have the best hemostatic effect, reducing bleeding time and volume.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(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)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Hongyue Wang, Hao Hu, Xindi Zhang, Lijun Zheng, Jingxin Ruan, Jiaqing Cao, Xiangrong Zhang
Summary: Naringin-sodium alginate-silk fibroin microspheres were prepared using the ionic gel method in this study. The microspheres showed high loading capacity and encapsulation efficiency for naringin, and released the compound continuously under different pH conditions. The microspheres also exhibited improved antioxidant activity and stability compared to free naringin. Furthermore, the application of naringin microspheres in yogurt resulted in reduced whey precipitation and inhibited pH decline.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Fang Lei, Jiangfeng Cai, Ruyin Lyu, Honglan Shen, Yalan Xu, Jie Wang, Yajun Shuai, Zongpu Xu, Chuanbin Mao, Mingying Yang
Summary: The study developed an injectable macroporous silk fibroin (SF) microsphere vaccine that can suppress established tumors with a single injection. The macroporous structure of the vaccine facilitates immune cell recruitment and activates dendritic cells, resulting in a favorable immune microenvironment and strong immune response against the tumor.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ziyang Sun, Haoran Liu, Dandan Dai, Hao Lyu, Ruochuan Huang, Wenzhao Wang, Chengchen Guo
Summary: This study presents a promising injectable cell-laden hydrogel system based on silk acid, which exhibits good cytocompatibility and injectability. The hydrogel has potential applications in 3D cell culture, targeted cell delivery, and tissue engineering.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
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)
Article
Polymer Science
Liliya Angelova, Albena Daskalova, Emil Filipov, Xavier Monforte Vila, Janine Tomasch, Georgi Avdeev, Andreas H. Teuschl-Woller, Ivan Buchvarov
Summary: The study aims to obtain and design porous 2D fibroin-based cell matrices by femtosecond laser-induced microstructuring for future applications in muscle tissue engineering. By varying the laser parameters, different structuring degrees can be achieved to generate porous channels with varying widths and depths.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Donghyeok Shin, Jinho Hyun
Summary: This report introduces a method for one-step 3D structuring of protein-based microneedles using digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. By using riboflavin as a photoinitiator, the printing of silk fibroin (SF) microneedles and the delivery of molecules to the skin in biomedical applications are achieved successfully.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xiaojie Lian, Rui Xu, Shichao Liu, Zechuan Wang, Baolong Niu, Di Huang, Yan Wei, Liqin Zhao
Summary: In this study, a bioactive composite material based on calcium sulfate hemihydrate bone cement was developed, incorporating silk fibroin nanofibers and vancomycin silk fibroin microspheres. The mechanical performance was found to be better in composites containing 0.5% SFM/VCM, and all composites showed a cumulative drug release percentage of less than 55% after 4 weeks, indicating a promising prospect for use as bone substitute material.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART B-APPLIED BIOMATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chenxi Zhao, Yawen Liu, Zhuochen Lv, Leitao Cao, Jing Ren, Zhengzhong Shao, Shengjie Ling
Summary: This study developed a silk protein-based nacre with mechanical properties superior to natural nacre by imitating the structure of natural nacre. The silk fibroin nacre can be used for structural engineering and biomedical applications, thanks to its good processability and tunable coloration.
ADVANCED FIBER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yu Zhou, Chi Gu, Jizhi Liang, Bohan Zhang, Huiran Yang, Zhitao Zhou, Meng Li, Liuyang Sun, Tiger H. Tao, Xiaoling Wei
Summary: The combination of optogenetics and electrophysiological recording allows for high-precision bidirectional interactions between neural interfaces and neural circuits, offering a promising approach for studying progressive neurophysiological phenomena. In this study, a hybrid probe (Silk-Optrode) composed of a silk protein optical fiber and flexible microelectrode arrays is reported. The Silk-Optrode exhibits accurate implantation into the brain and enables synchronized optogenetic stimulation and multichannel recording in freely behaving animals. By utilizing the hydration of the silk optical fiber, the Silk-Optrode adapts to the environment after implantation and reduces its own mechanical stiffness to ensure high fidelity implantation while maintaining mechanical compliance with the surrounding tissue. The probe with 128 recording channels can detect well-isolated single units and perform intracranial light stimulation with low optical losses, surpassing previous similar work. Results from a two-month post-surgery evaluation suggest that the Silk-Optrode probe exhibits improved implant-neural interfaces with less immune response and tissue damage.
MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Greta Camilla Magnano, Marika Quadri, Elisabetta Palazzo, Roberta Lotti, Francesca Loschi, Stefano Dall'Acqua, Michela Abrami, Francesca Larese Filon, Alessandra Marconi, Dritan Hasa
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the loading of sildenafil citrate in three commercial transdermal vehicles using 3D full-thickness skin equivalent and compare the results with permeability experiments using porcine skin. The results showed that the results obtained using the 3D skin equivalent were comparable to those obtained using porcine skin, suggesting that the 3D skin model can be a valid alternative for ex-vivo skin absorption experiments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2024)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
James W. Mckeage, Andrew Z. H. Tan, Andrew J. Taberner
Summary: Needle-free jet injection is a promising alternative drug delivery technique that offers rapid, non-invasive, and large-volume injections. The study presents a prototype multi-orifice nozzle and a computational fluid dynamic model to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of this technology.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2024)
