A novel silk-based vocal fold augmentation material: 6-month evaluation in a canine model.

Objectives: Ideal long-term vocal fold augmentation materials should be biocompatible, easily administered, allow tissue integration for long-term effect, and remain at the site of injection. A novel silk protein particle suspended in hyaluronic acid (Silk-HA) has been developed specifically for vocal fold augmentation to address this unmet need. This article presents the 6-month, preclinical findings of a canine vocal fold injection trial for Silk-HA.

Injectable Silk Protein Microparticle-based Fillers: A Novel Material for Potential Use in Glottic Insufficiency.

Objectives And Hypothesis: A novel, silk protein-based injectable filler was engineered with the intention of vocal fold augmentation as its eventual intended use. This injectable filler leverages the unique properties of silk protein's superior biocompatibility, mechanical tunability, and slow in vivo degradation to one day better serve the needs of otolaryngologists. This paper intends to demonstrate the mechanical properties of the proposed novel injectable and to evaluate its longevity in animal models.

Predicting rates of in vivo degradation of recombinant spider silk proteins.

Developing fundamental tools and insight into biomaterial designs for predictive functional outcomes remains critical for the field. Silk is a promising candidate as a biomaterial for tissue engineering scaffolds, particularly where high mechanical loads or slow rates of degradation are desirable. Although bioinspired synthetic spider silks are feasible biomaterials for this purpose, insight into how well the degradation rate can be programmed by fine tuning the sequence remains to be determined.