Applications of Silk Fibroin in Human and Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

The properties of silk make it a promising material for medical applications, both in human and veterinary medicine. Its predominant amino acids, glycine and alanine, exhibit low chemical reactivity, reducing the risk of graft rejection, a notable advantage over most synthetic polymers. Hence, silk is increasingly used as a material for 3D printing in biomedicine. It can be used to build cell scaffolding with the desired cytocompatibility and biodegradability. In combination with gelatine, silk can be used in the treatment of arthritis, and as a hydrogel, to regenerate chondrocytes and mesenchymal cells. When combined with gelatine and collagen, it can also make skin grafts and regenerate the integumentary system. In the treatment of bone tissue, it can be used in combination with polylactic acid and hydroxyapatite to produce bone clips having good mechanical properties and high immunological tolerance. Furthermore, silk can provide a good microenvironment for the proliferation of bone marrow stem cells. Moreover, research is underway to produce artificial blood vessels using silk in combination with glycidyl methacrylate. Silk vascular grafts have demonstrated a high degree of patency and a satisfactory degree of endothelial cells coverage.