Silk sericin: a promising sustainable biomaterial for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications

Silk is a natural composite fiber composed mainly of hydrophobic fibroin and hydrophilic sericin, produced by the silkworm Bombyx mori. In the textile industry, the cocoons of B. mori are processed into silk fabric, where the sericin is substantially removed and usually discarded in wastewater. This wastewater pollutes the environment and water sources. However, sericin has been recognized as a potential biomaterial due to its biocompatibility, immunocompatibility, biodegradability, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and photoprotective properties. Moreover, sericin can produce hydrogels, films, sponges, foams, dressings, particles, fibers, etc., for various biomedical and pharmaceutical applications (e.g., tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, cosmetics). Given the severe environmental pollution caused by the disposal of sericin and its beneficial properties, there has been growing interest in upcycling this biomaterial, which could have a strong and positive economic, social and environmental impact.

Keywords

Bombyx mori Silk sericin Biomaterials Biomedical and pharmaceutical applications Tissue engineering Drug delivery systems

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10198/27186

Citation

Silva, Andreia; Costa, Elisabete C.; Reis, Sara; Spencer, Carina; Calhelha, Ricardo C.; Miguel, Sónia P.; Ribeiro, Maximiano; Barros, Lillian; Vaz, Josiana A.; Coutinho, Paula. (2022). Silk sericin: a promising sustainable biomaterial for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. Polymers. ISSN 20734360. 14:22, p. 1-22