Silk has a long track record of clinical use in the human body, and new formulations, including silk nanoparticles, continue to reveal the promise of this natural biopolymer for healthcare applications. Native silk fibroin can be isolated directly from the silk gland, but generating sufficient material for routine studies is difficult. Consequently, silk fibroin, typically extracted from cocoons, serves as the source for nanoparticle formation. This silk requires extensive processing (e.g., degumming, dissolution, etc.) to yield a hypoallergenic aqueous silk stock, but the impact of processing on nanoparticle production and characteristics is largely unknown. Here, manual and microfluidic-assisted silk nanoparticle manufacturing from 60- and 90-min degummed silk yielded consistent particle sizes (100.9-114.1 nm) with low polydispersity. However, the zeta potential was significantly lower ( < 0.05) for microfluidic-manufactured nanoparticles (-28 to -29 mV) than for manually produced nanoparticles (-39 to -43 mV). Molecular weight analysis showed a nanoparticle composition similar to that of the silk fibroin starting stock. Reducing the molecular weight of silk fibroin reduced the particle size for degumming times ≤30 min, whereas increasing the molecular weight polydispersity improved the nanoparticle homogeneity. Prolonged degumming (>30 min) had no significant effect on particle attributes. Overall, the results showed that silk fibroin processing directly impacts nanoparticle characteristics.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00202 | DOI Listing |
ACS Appl Mater Interfaces
January 2025
Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Photoelectric Control on Surface and Interface, and College of Science, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Yuxiang Road 26, Shijiazhuang 050080, PR China.
The development of silk fibroin-based hydrogels with excellent biocompatibility, aqueous processability, and facile controllability in structure is indeed an exciting advancement for biological research and strain sensor applications. However, silk fibroin-based hydrogel strain sensors that combine high conductivity, high stretchability, reusability, and high selectivity are still desired. Herein, we report a simple method for preparing double-network hydrogels including silk fibroin and poly(acrylic acid) sodium-polyacrylate (PAA-PAAS) networks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Dent Sci
January 2025
Graduate Institute of Clinical Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University and National University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background/purpose: Dental implants can restore both function and aesthetics in edentulous areas. However, the absence of cushioning mechanical behavior in implants may limit their clinical performance and reduce the long-term survival rates. This study aimed to establish an implant cushion mechanism that mimicked the natural periodontal ligament, utilizing the properties of composite hydrogels.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Mater
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, P. R. China.
Advanced carbon materials are widely utilized in wearable electronics. Nevertheless, the production of carbon materials from fossil-based sources raised concerns regarding their non-renewability, high energy consumption, and the consequent greenhouse gas emissions. Biopolymers, readily available in nature, offer a promising and eco-friendly alternative as a carbon source, enabling the sustainable production of carbon materials for wearable electronics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Mater
January 2025
Institute of Applied Bioresource Research, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Assembling natural proteins into large, strong, bone-mimetic scaffolds for repairing bone defects in large-animal load-bearing sites remain elusive. Here this challenge is tackled by assembling pure silk fibroin (SF) into 3D scaffolds with cortical-bone-like lamellae, superior strength, and biodegradability through freeze-casting. The unique lamellae promote the attachment, migration, and proliferation of tissue-regenerative cells (e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Nanobiotechnology
January 2025
Orthodontic Department, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated hospital of Medical School, Institute of Stomatology, Nanjing University, No. 30 Zhongyang Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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