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Manufacture and Drug Delivery Applications of Silk Nanoparticles
Published on: October 8, 2016
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Genetically engineered pH-responsive silk sericin nanospheres with efficient therapeutic effect on ulcerative colitis
Sheng Xu1, Qianqian Yang1, Riyuan Wang1
1State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Novel Silk Materials, Biological Science Research Center, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, PR China.
Acta Biomaterialia
|March 15, 2022
Summary
Silk sericin nanospheres effectively deliver recombinant human lactoferrin to treat ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. This targeted delivery system enhances therapeutic effects, offering a promising alternative to conventional treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Ulcerative colitis (UC), a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), presents challenges for targeted drug delivery.
- Lactoferrin (LF) shows promise for UC treatment, but optimizing its bioavailability and effectiveness requires advanced delivery systems.
- Current strategies struggle with targeted delivery, limiting LF's therapeutic potential in the colon.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel silk sericin nanosphere system for targeted delivery of recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLF) for UC treatment.
- To assess the efficacy of this system in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis.
- To investigate the potential of rhLF-loaded nanospheres for improving therapeutic outcomes in IBD.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of silk sericin nanospheres (SS-NS-rhLF) using genetically engineered silk fibers from transgenic silkworms.
- Characterization of SS-NS-rhLF for morphology, size (average 123 nm), stability, and surface charge.
- In vivo evaluation in a mouse model of UC, comparing oral administration of SS-NS-rhLF with free rhLF (SOL-rhLF).
Main Results:
- SS-NS-rhLF exhibited stable spherical morphology and efficient cellular uptake in inflamed colonic tissues.
- The nanospheres demonstrated pH-dependent targeting (pH ≥ 5.5) to positively charged colonic sites.
- Oral administration of low-dose SS-NS-rhLF achieved therapeutic effects comparable to high-dose SOL-rhLF, reducing inflammation and improving colon tissue integrity.
Conclusions:
- The developed silk sericin nanosphere system (SS-NS-rhLF) provides an effective strategy for targeted delivery of rhLF in UC treatment.
- This system demonstrates significant therapeutic benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved colon health, via oral administration.
- SS-NS-rhLF represents a promising advancement for managing ulcerative colitis and potentially other inflammatory bowel diseases.
