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Bioengineered Silkworm for Producing Cocoons with High Fibroin Content for Regenerated Fibroin Biomaterial-Based
Mana Yamano1, Ryoko Hirose1, Ping Ying Lye1
1Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 9, 2022
Summary
Transgenic silkworms produce allergen-free silk fibroin by repressing sericin. This intact fibroin, free from immune reactions, can be used for biocompatible medical materials.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Genetic Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Silk fibroin is a biocompatible and biodegradable biomaterial.
- Sericin contamination in silk fibroin causes immune reactions and allergies, limiting its medical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for producing intact, allergen-free silk fibroin.
- To create novel silk fibroin-based materials for biomedical use.
Main Methods:
- Established transgenic silkworms to repress sericin expression using pierisin-1A.
- Prepared intact fibroin from transgenic cocoons without degumming.
- Formed fibroin sponges and evaluated chondrogenic differentiation of ATDC5 cells.
Main Results:
- Transgenic silkworms produced cocoons solely of fibroin, eliminating sericin.
- Intact fibroin was obtained without degradation, unlike traditional methods.
- Fibroin sponges were formed, and effective chondrogenic differentiation was observed.
Conclusions:
- Intact, allergen-free silk fibroin can be produced from transgenic cocoons.
- This method bypasses sericin removal, preventing fibroin degradation.
- Provides a pathway for high-biocompatibility fibroin materials for biomedical applications.
