The interplay between silk fibroin's structure and its adhesive properties.

-derived silk fibroin (SF) is a well-characterized protein employed in numerous biomedical applications. Structurally, SF consists of a heavy chain (HC) and a light chain (LC), connected via a single disulfide bond. The HC sequence is organized into 12 crystalline domains interspersed with amorphous regions that can transition between random coil/alpha helix and beta-sheet configurations, giving silk its hallmark properties.

A Controlled Antibiotic Release System for the Development of Single-Application Otitis Externa Therapeutics.

Ear infections are a commonly-occurring problem that can affect people of all ages. Treatment of these pathologies usually includes the administration of topical or systemic antibiotics, depending on the location of the infection. In this context, we sought to address the feasibility of a single-application slow-releasing therapeutic formulation of an antibiotic for the treatment of otitis externa.

Nanoparticulate Poly(glucaramide)-Based Hydrogels for Controlled Release Applications.

In 2004, D-Glucaric acid (GA) was identified as one of the top value-added chemicals from renewable feedstocks. For this study, a patented synthetic method was used to obtain gel forming polymers through the polycondensation of GA and several aliphatic diamines. The first time characterization and a potential practical application of such hydrogels is reported herein.