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Silk-Based Bioinspired Materials: Design and Applications

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A special issue of Biomimetics (ISSN 2313-7673). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomimetics of Materials and Structures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 February 2024) | Viewed by 3232

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Yasushi Tamada

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Textile Science and Technology, Shinshu University, Tokida, Ueda City 386-8567, Nagano, Japan
Interests: silk; biomaterial; nanofibers

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Silk is a fibrous material produced by spinning proteins biosynthesized by organisms such as insects and spiders. Silk has a variety of functions, such as protecting pupae by forming a shelter, encasing eggs, capturing food, building a home, and serving as a guide rail for reproduction. Therefore, the proteins have a variety of amino acid sequences to suit their purposes, and their higher-order structures are also carefully controlled to meet the physical properties required for each of them. Furthermore, silks are produced in accordance with the environment in which they grow, just as caddis-flies live in the water and produce silk in the water. This special issue will contribute to the accumulation of knowledge and development of technologies in biomimetics and new materials development by means of original papers and review articles from biological, molecular biological, chemical, physicochemical, or engineering viewpoints on design, production, processing, applications of advanced functional materials and devices that mimic or are inspired by the structure and properties of such various silks.

Prof. Dr. Yasushi Tamada
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

silk
structure
function
modifications
applications

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 6221 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Special Prey, Special Glue: NMR Spectroscopy on Aggregate Glue Components of Moth-Specialist Spiders, Cyrtarachninae

by Max W. VanDyck, John H. Long, Jr., Richard H. Baker, Cheryl Y. Hayashi and Candido Diaz, Jr.

Biomimetics 2024, 9(5), 256; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9050256 - 23 Apr 2024

Viewed by 872

Abstract

Orb-weaver spiders produce upwards of seven different types of silk, each with unique material properties. We focus on the adhesive within orb-weaving spider webs, aggregate glue silk. These droplets are composed of three main components: water, glycoproteins, and a wide range of low molecular mass compounds (LMMCs). These LMMCs are known to play a crucial role in maintaining the material properties of the glycoproteins, aid in water absorption from the environment, and increase surface adhesion. Orb-weavers within the Cyrtarachninae subfamily are moth specialists and have evolved glue droplets with novel material properties. This study investigated the biochemical composition and diversity of the LMMCs present in the aggregate glue of eight moth-specialist species and compared them with five generalist orb-weavers using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We hypothesized that the novel drying ability of moth-specialist glue was accompanied by novel LMMCs and lower overall percentages by silk weight of LMMCs. We measured no difference in LMMC weight by the type of prey specialization, but observed novel compositions in the glue of all eight moth-catching species. Further, we quantified the presence of a previously reported but unidentified compound that appears in the glue of all moth specialists. These silks can provide insight into the functions of bioadhesives and inform our own synthetic adhesives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silk-Based Bioinspired Materials: Design and Applications)

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16 pages, 4810 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nanocomposite Methacrylated Silk Fibroin-Based Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

by Eugenia Spessot, Serena Passuello, Lekha Vinod Shah, Devid Maniglio and Antonella Motta

Biomimetics 2024, 9(4), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9040218 - 6 Apr 2024

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Abstract

The treatment of bone defects is a clinical challenge. Bone tissue engineering is gaining interest as an alternative to current treatments, with the development of 3D porous structures (scaffolds) helpful in promoting bone regeneration by ensuring temporary functional support. In this work, methacrylated silk fibroin (SilMA) sponges were investigated as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering by exploiting the combination of physical (induced by NaCl salt during particulate leaching) and chemical crosslinking (induced by UV-light exposure) techniques. A biomimetic approach was adopted to better simulate the extracellular matrix of the bone by introducing either natural (mussel shell-derived) or synthetic-origin hydroxyapatite nanoparticles into the SilMA sponges. The obtained materials were characterized in terms of pore size, water absorption capability and mechanical properties to understand both the effect of the inclusion of the two different types of nanoparticles and the effect of the photocrosslinking. Moreover, the SilMA sponges were tested for their bioactivity and suitability for bone tissue engineering purposes by using osteosarcoma cells, studying their metabolism by an AlamarBlue assay and their morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Results indicate that photocrosslinking helps in obtaining more regular structures with bimodal pore size distributions and in enhancing the stability of the constructs in water. Moreover, the addition of naturally derived hydroxyapatite was observed to be more effective at activating osteosarcoma cell metabolism than synthetic hydroxyapatite, showing a statistically significant difference in the AlamarBlue measurement on day 7 after seeding. The methacrylated silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite nanocomposite sponges developed in this work were found to be promising tools for targeting bone regeneration with a sustainable approach. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silk-Based Bioinspired Materials: Design and Applications)

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Review

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11 pages, 987 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Emerging Role of Silk Fibroin for the Development of Novel Drug Delivery Systems

by Mauro Pollini and Federica Paladini

Biomimetics 2024, 9(5), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9050295 - 15 May 2024

Viewed by 321

Abstract

In order to reduce the toxicological impact on healthy cells and to improve the therapeutic response, many drug delivery systems have been fabricated and analysed, involving the use of different natural and synthetic materials at macro-, micro- and nanoscales. Among the natural materials which have demonstrated a huge potential for the development of effective drug delivery systems, silk fibroin has emerged for its excellent biological properties and for the possibility to be processed in a wide range of forms, which can be compliant with multiple active molecules and pharmaceutical ingredients for the treatment of various diseases. This review aims at presenting silk fibroin as an interesting biopolymer for applications in drug delivery systems, exploring the results obtained in recent works in terms of technological progress and effectiveness in vitro and in vivo. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silk-Based Bioinspired Materials: Design and Applications)

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12 pages, 523 KiB

Open AccessReview

Redefining Surgical Materials: Applications of Silk Fibroin in Osteofixation and Fracture Repair

by Jose A. Foppiani, Iulianna C. Taritsa, Lacey Foster, Armaan Patel, Angelica Hernandez Alvarez, Daniela Lee, Gavin J. Lin, Theodore C. Lee, Dominika Gavlasova, Maria J. Escobar-Domingo, David L. Kaplan and Samuel J. Lin

Biomimetics 2024, 9(5), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9050286 - 11 May 2024

Viewed by 623

Abstract

Silk and silk derivatives have emerged as a possible alternative in surgical device development, offering mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and environmental sustainability. Through a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, this study evaluated silk fibroin’s application across pre-clinical and clinical settings, focusing on its role as screws and plates for osteofixation. A comprehensive search yielded 245 studies, with 33 subjected to full-text review and 15 ultimately included for qualitative analysis. The findings underscore silk fibroin’s superior properties, including its tunable degradation rates and ability to be functionalized with therapeutic agents. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated its efficacy in enhancing bone healing, offering improved outcomes in osteofixation, particularly for craniofacial defects. Silk fibroin’s remarkable attributes in biodegradation and drug release capabilities underscore its potential to enhance patient care. Ultimately, silk fibroin’s integration into surgical practices promises a revolution in patient outcomes and environmental sustainability. Its versatility, coupled with the continuous progress in fabrication techniques, signals a promising horizon for its widespread acceptance in the medical field, potentially establishing a new benchmark in surgical treatment. Further research is expected to solidify the transition of silk products from basic science to patient care, paving the way for widespread use in various surgical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Silk-Based Bioinspired Materials: Design and Applications)

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