Silk Protein-Based Materials for Photothermal Therapy: From Morphologies to Multifunctional Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Noninvasive photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising cancer treatment with benefits like low toxicity and high efficiency.
• Silk protein, a natural biomaterial, possesses excellent mechanical stability, biocompatibility, and degradability, making it valuable for PTT research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the physicochemical properties of silk protein for PTT applications.
• To explore various silk protein morphologies (hydrogels, scaffolds, films) loaded with photothermal agents.
• To discuss innovative applications and future prospects of silk-based PTT materials.

Main Methods:

• Literature review summarizing silk protein properties and PTT applications.
• Analysis of different silk morphologies used in conjunction with photothermal agents.
• Exploration of synergistic therapeutic strategies involving silk-based PTT.

Main Results:

• Silk proteins can be fabricated into diverse forms like hydrogels, scaffolds, and films for PTT.
• Silk-based PTT platforms demonstrate potential in drug delivery, antimicrobial therapy, and wound healing.
• Multimodal synergistic therapeutic platforms utilizing silk-based PTT are under development.

Conclusions:

• Silk protein is a versatile biomaterial for developing advanced PTT strategies.
• Silk-based PTT offers advantages in targeted cancer therapy and multimodal treatments.
• Further research into silk-based PTT materials can overcome current challenges and unlock new therapeutic avenues.