Biomedical application of Thai silks

This article focuses on potential in biomedical application of Thai silk proteins, sericin and fibroin. Sericin, a water soluble, glue-like protein has been used in various cosmetics and medical ingredients, especially in wound healing. Fibroin, a high stability fiber protein, has potential in tissue engineering because of its excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, slow degradability and low inflammatory responses. Thai silk fibroin (Nangnoi Srisaket 1, yellow cocoon) scaffolds prepared from fibroin (LiBr hydrolysis of the fibers followed with dialysis process) using freeze drying and salt leaching processes, were compared in their physicochemical and biological properties. Various types of 3D-tissue engineering and controlled release system were studied. Inflammatory responses of the silk-based scaffolds implanted in Wistar rats showed “slightly-to-none” level of irritation compared to the commercialized product.