SILK FIBROIN IN EFFECTIVE WOUND DRESSING: AN OVERVIEW

Silk materials have been shown to promote wound healing since the 1990s. Both fibroin and sericin have been found to be an effective substrate for the proliferation of adherent animal cells and can be used as a substitute for collagen. Because of their excellent physical and biological properties, silk fibroin and sericin were widely investigated for their use in biomedical applications including wound healing materials. Medical wound dressing is a commonly-used treatment for skin defects. Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural protein derived from Bombyxmori cocoons, and shows potential in tissue repair applications due to its excellent biomedical properties. Numerous silk fibroin wound dressings have been developed in the lab, however, lack of large animal studies and clinical trials have hindered their wide use in the clinic. In recent era, the growing field of tissue engineering has introduced remarkable wound dressings based on natural polymers. The unique properties of SF, such as its biocompatibility, biodegradability, high water and oxygen uptake, low immunogenicity, and robust mechanical properties, make it an exceptional choice for wound healing. Despite the successful use of SF in wound dressings, it is not yet approved as an artificial skin. Recently, biomimetic wound dressings were introduced as potential replacements for treating skin injuries. Although there are some clinically available skin replacements, the range of wound types and locations necessitates a broader range of options for the clinic. Natural polymeric-based dressings are of central interest in this area due to their outstanding biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and non-allergenic nature. Among them, silk fibroin has exceptional characteristics as a wound dressing. SF-based dressings can also be used as carriers for delivering drugs, growth factors, and bioactive agents to the wound area, while providing appropriate support for complete healing. This dressing is expected to promote good health and wellbeing of masses at an affordable cost. Therefore this is in alignment to UN sustainable development goal (SDG) and can be very effective for smart Kashi initiatives.