Insight into Silk-Based Biomaterials: From Physicochemical Attributes to Recent Biomedical Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Biotechnology
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Silk, a natural biopolymer, has a long history in medicine and recent resurgence for advanced biomedical applications.
• Silk fibroin (SF) from mulberry and nonmulberry sources exhibits unique properties making it a promising biomaterial.
• Understanding silk protein's molecular composition is key to its diverse applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the structure-function relationship of silk fibroin (SF) in biomaterial development.
• To explore SF's applications in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and in vitro tissue models.
• To discuss the clinical success and future potential of silk-based healthcare products.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of molecular studies on silk protein amino acid composition and conformation.
• Review of SF isolation procedures and fabrication techniques for 2D and 3D matrices, including 3D printed scaffolds.
• Assessment of clinical trial data for silk-based healthcare products.

Main Results:

• Silk fibroin's tunable properties (crystallinity, hydrophobicity, tensile strength) are linked to its molecular structure.
• SF demonstrates efficacy in drug delivery systems for controlled and targeted release.
• SF-based scaffolds facilitate the development of advanced in vitro tissue models for research and drug screening.
• Nonmulberry silk varieties show significant potential due to their unique properties and attention in recent research.

Conclusions:

• Silk fibroin's inherent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and tunable properties position it as a versatile biomaterial.
• Advancements in fabrication techniques continue to expand SF applications in regenerative medicine and personalized healthcare.
• The review underscores the significant progress and market presence of silk-based biomaterials, driven by a deep understanding of their structure-function relationship.