Silks as scaffolds for skin reconstruction

Abstract

In this short review, we describe the use of high molecular weight proteins produced in the glands of several arthropods-commonly called silks-for the purpose to enhance human skin wound healing. To this end an extensive literature search has been performed, the publications have been categorized concerning silk preparation and application and summarized accordingly: Scaffolds to promote wound healing were prepared by processing the silks in different ways including solubilization of the protein fibers followed by casting or electrospinning. The silk scaffolds were additionally modified by coating or blending with the intention of further functionalization. In several approaches, the scaffolds were also vitalized with skin cells or stem cells. In vitro and in vivo models were implied to test for safety and efficiency. We conclude that silk scaffolds are characterized by an advantageous biocompatibility as well as an impressive versatility rendering them ideally suited for application in wounds. Nevertheless, further investigation is needed to exploit the full capacity of silk in different wound models and to achieve clinical transfer in time.

Combining Stem Cells and Biomaterial Scaffolds for Constructing Tissues and Cell Delivery

“…Meinel and colleagues showed that silk scaffolds promoted more extensive chondrogenesis compared to collagen scaffolds when seeded with human mesenchymal stem cells [96]. More recent efforts have used the combination of stem cells with silk scaffolds to engineer skin as reviewed recently [101]. Silk offers superior biocompatibility in comparison to other biomaterials based on in vivo testing.…”

Biomaterials for Skin Substitutes

“…Silk is another natural biomaterial with slow degradation rate, suitable for skin tissue engineering, that can be obtained from either Bombyx mori cocoons or Nephila silk glands . They can be used to make silk films, foams as well as woven or nonwoven scaffolds.…”

Silk Fibroin in Effective Wound Dressing: An Overview.

“…Many arthropods, such as spiders and silkworms produce silks in the epithelial cells of their specialized glands which are basically proteins having highly repetitive sequence, consisting mainly of glycine (43%), alanine (30%), and serine (12%) -[GAGSGA]n motifs, arranged in -sheets regions embedded in an amorphous matrix [14,3] and confer high toughness and elasticity [2,4]. Silk of Bombyx mori silkworms contain two major protein components; fibroin and sericin.…”

“…Silk fibroins have been successfully utilized for skin tissue engineering and wound healing applications for their high mechanical resistance, enzymatic-driven biodegradability and favorable cell attachment. Bombyx mori silkworm-derived fibroins are acquired from cocoon and separated from sericin by degumming in alkaline boiling water and following solubilization in hot LiBr solution [14,3]. Upon modification of the helical chain arrangements into -sheets via alcohol treatment or water vapor annealing, the regenerated silk water soluble form, silk I, can be converted into insoluble silk II [15].…”