Introduction to silk biomaterials

Naskar, Deboki; Barua, Ranjit; Ghosh, Ananta K.; Kundu, Subhas C.

doi:10.1533/9780857097064.1.3

Cited by 27 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 107 publications

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“…The underwater adhesion mechanism of caddisworm silk is distinct from the adhesive mechanisms employed by terrestrial silks that rely on sticky hygroscopic glycoprotein glues coating the fibrous silk core (50). The sericin coating on silkworm silk fibers, comprising as much as 28% of the silk mass, can be easily removed with warm water (8,51). Similarly, spiders apply hygroscopic glue composed of glycoproteins and organic salts from specialized glands to the silk threads (52).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic caddisworm silk is solidified by environmental metal ions during the natural fiber‐spinning process

Ashton

Stewart

2018

The FASEB Journal

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Aquatic caddisfly larvae (caddisworms) wet spin fibers to construct composite cases of silk and stone. The silk emerges from labial ducts as a nanofibrous fluid gel, flowing over the stone substrate and making intimate interfacial adhesive contacts before being drawn into tough fibers that rapidly solidify underwater to span gaps in the construction. Divalent metal ions are responsible for the unique mechanical properties of naturally spun silk fibers; however, when and where divalent metal ions are incorporated into the metallofibers and other aspects of the fiber solidification mechanism are poorly understood. To investigate, the elemental composition and secondary structure of silk precursors stored in the silk gland lumen were compared with naturally spun fibers by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Naturally spun fibers contained near equimolar ratios of Ca to P. In contrast, silk precursors stored in the silk gland lumen contained only traces of Ca and other multivalent metal ions. Ca was also undetectable in anterior lumenal silk using the histochemical Ca indicator, alizarin S red. Addition of Ca to isolated lumenal silk resulted in Ca complexation by H-fibroin phosphoserines (pSs) and a shift in secondary structure from random coils to β-structures, creating infrared spectra in the phosphate and amide I regions nearly equivalent to those found in naturally spun Ca-containing silk fibers. Light and electron microscopy within distinct regions of the silk gland suggested that posterior gland silk colloidal complexes transition into a nanofibrous morphology as they pass into the chitin-lined anterior lumen. Altogether, the results suggest that environmental Ca absorbed from natural water triggers silk fiber solidification postdraw by complexing H-fibroin pSs, creating Ca-stabilized crystalline β-nanodomains that cross-link and toughen the freshly drawn silk fibers.-Ashton, N. N., Stewart, R. J. Aquatic caddisworm silk is solidified by environmental metal ions during the natural fiber spinning process.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aquatic caddisworm silk is solidified by environmental metal ions during the natural fiber‐spinning process

Ashton

Stewart

2018

The FASEB Journal

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“…SF is a naturally derived protein that can be produced by many silkworm species. Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons occupies a prominent position, due to their historic use in the textile industry and in the medical field (Naskar, Barua, Ghosh, & Kundu, ). The polypeptides of SF are composed mainly by two different peptide chains, a heavy (~350 kDa) and a light (~25 kDa) fraction, chemically linked by a disulphide bridge.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phospholipid‐induced silk fibroin hydrogels and their potential as cell carriers for tissue regeneration

Laomeephol

Guedes

Ferreira

et al. 2019

J Tissue Eng Regen Med

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Silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels can be obtained via self-assembly, but this process takes several days or weeks, being unfeasible to produce cell carrier hydrogels. In this work, a phospholipid, namely, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-(1′-rac-glycerol) sodium salt (DMPG), was used to induce and accelerate the gelation process of SF solutions. Due to the amphipathic nature and negative charge of DMPG, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the phospholipids and SF chains will occur, inducing the structural transition of SF chains to the beta sheet and consequently a rapid gel formation is observed (less than 50 min). Moreover, the gelation time can be controlled by varying the lipid concentration. To assess the potential of the hydrogels as cell carriers, several mammalian cell lines, including L929, NIH/3T3, SaOS-2, and CaSki, were encapsulated into the hydrogel. The silk-based hydrogels supported the normal growth of fibroblasts, corroborating their cytocompatibility.Interestingly, an inhibition in the growth of cancer-derived cell lines was observed.Therefore, DMPG-induced SF hydrogels can be successfully used as a 3D platform for in situ cell encapsulation, opening promising opportunities in biomedical applications, such as in cell therapies and tissue regeneration.Bombyx mori "Nangnoi Srisaket 1" Thai silk cocoons were obtained from Queen Sirikit Sericulture Center, Srisaket province, Thailand.DMPG and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) were purchased from Avanti Lipids Polar, USA. Cell culture medium and all other reagents were purchased from Thermo Fisher Scientific.All reagents were of analytical grade. | SF solution preparation and its zeta potential determinationSF solution was prepared using the method adapted from Kim, Park, Joo Kim, Wada, and Kaplan (2005). In brief, silk cocoons were boiled in 0.02 M Na 2 CO 3 for 20 min, followed by their thoroughly washing with distilled water. The extracted silk fibre was then dissolved in 9.3 M LiBr at 60°C for 4 hr. The silk solution was dialysed against distilled water using a dialysis tube (MWCO 12-16 kDa; Sekisui, Japan) for 48 hr. The final concentration was approximately 6%, which was determined from dried solid weight.Analysis of zeta potential of the SF solution was conducted using laser doppler electrophoresis in a Zetasizer Nano ZS equipment (Malvern Instruments) at 25°C.

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“…mori ) silk is considered a non‐animal product (EU Council Directive 93/42/EEC, rule 17). Importantly, it is biocompatible, non‐inflammatory, and non‐cytotoxic 5 . There are two important components of silk that are derived from the B .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, it is biocompatible, noninflammatory, and non-cytotoxic. 5 There are two important components of silk that are derived from the B. mori worm, both of which are proteins-fibroin and sericin. 6 In simple terms, sericin, which represents about 30% of the entire cocoon, functions as a glue to hold the fibroin fibers together while blocking UV rays and providing moisture.…”

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confidence: 99%

Evaluation of skin care concerns and patient’s perception of the effect of NanoSilk Cream on facial skin

Louiselle

Niemiec

Azeltine

et al. 2021

J of Cosmetic Dermatology

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Background Skin aging is an inevitable process with one of the key features of aging being dryness or flakiness of the skin. Previous in vivo and in vitro testing has highlighted that a silk‐based product may be effective in improving moisture retention in skin. Methods We evaluated the safety and efficacy of our silk‐based product through a combination of objective‐ including scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and EpiDerm Skin Irritation tests ‐ and subjective tests – including direct evaluation of patient’s own perception of their skin. Results In alignment with previous studies, patients reported significant concerns about aging, wrinkling, or saggy skin. We found that our silk‐based product was safe and effective in improving hydration and resilience of facial skin and a majority of participants stated they would continue to use this product, when commercially available. Conclusion Our novel silk‐based product, NanoSilk Cosmo, is safe for use on human facial skin and it improves skin resiliency and hydration.

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Introduction to silk biomaterials

Cited by 27 publications

References 107 publications

Aquatic caddisworm silk is solidified by environmental metal ions during the natural fiber‐spinning process

Aquatic caddisworm silk is solidified by environmental metal ions during the natural fiber‐spinning process

Phospholipid‐induced silk fibroin hydrogels and their potential as cell carriers for tissue regeneration

Evaluation of skin care concerns and patient’s perception of the effect of NanoSilk Cream on facial skin

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