Progress in silk and silk fiber-inspired polymeric nanomaterials for drug delivery

Abstract

The fields of drug and gene delivery have been revolutionized by the discovery and characterization of polymer-based materials. Polymeric nanomaterials have emerged as a strategy for targeted delivery because of features such as their impressive biocompatibility and improved availability. Use of naturally derived polymers in these nanomaterials is advantageous due to their biodegradability and bioresorption. Natural biopolymer-based particles composed of silk fibroins and other silk fiber-inspired proteins have been the focus of research in drug delivery systems due to their simple synthesis, tunable characteristics, and ability to respond to stimuli. Several silk and silk-inspired polymers contain a high proportion of reactive side groups, allowing for functionalization and addition of targeting moieties. In this review, we discuss the main classes of silk and silk-inspired polymers that are being used in the creation of nanomaterials. We also focus on the fabrication techniques used in generating a tunable design space of silk-based polymeric nanomaterials and detail how that translates into use for drug delivery to several distinct microenvironments.

Silk Fibroin Particles as Carriers in the Development of Hemoglobin‐Based Oxygen Carriers

“…[40] Bioactive molecule encapsulation and stability in silk fibroin nano-and microparticles has previously been investigated in the context of cancer nanomedicines and potential intraperitoneal delivery. [44][45][46][47][48] Due to the nature of anticancer drugs being mainly small molecules and the complexity in studying natural biopolymer and small molecule interaction in a crystallized state, there is limited knowledge of how silk particle systems encapsulate and stabilize larger protein-based cargo. We also seek to understand if stabilization in the nano-or microparticle systems differs from the β-sheet crystalline driven process observed in macro-sized silk materials such as films and scaffolds.…”

Silk Fibroin Particles as Carriers in the Development of All-Natural Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers (HBOCs)

“…Bioactive molecule encapsulation and stability in silk fibroin nano-and microparticles has previously been investigated in the context of cancer nanomedicines and potential intraperitoneal delivery. [37][38][39][40][41] Due to the nature of anti-cancer drugs being mainly small molecules and the complexity in studying natural biopolymer and small molecule interaction in a crystallized state, there is limited knowledge of how silk particle systems encapsulate and stabilize larger protein-based cargo. We also seek to understand if stabilization in the nano-or microparticle systems differs from the β-sheet crystalline driven process observed in macro-sized silk materials such as films and scaffolds.…”