Sericin based nanoformulations: a comprehensive review on molecular mechanisms of interaction with organisms to biological applications

Abstract

Background The advances in products based on nanotechnology have directed extensive research on low-cost, biologically compatible, and easily degradable materials. Main body Sericin (SER) is a protein mainly composed of glycine, serine, aspartic acid, and threonine amino acids removed from the silkworm cocoon (particularly Bombyx mori and other species). SER is a biocompatible material with economic viability, which can be easily functionalized due to its potential crosslink reactions. Also, SER has inherent biological properties, which makes possible its use as a component of pharmaceutical formulations with several biomedical applications, such as anti-tumor, antimicrobials, antioxidants and as scaffolds for tissue repair as well as participating in molecular mechanisms attributed to the regulation of transcription factors, reduction of inflammatory signaling molecules, stimulation of apoptosis, migration, and proliferation of mesenchymal cells. Conclusion In this review, the recent innovations on SER-based nano-medicines (nanoparticles, micelles, films, hydrogels, and their hybrid systems) and their contributions for non-conventional therapies are discussed considering different molecular mechanisms for promoting their therapeutic applications.

In Vitro Interaction of Doxorubicin-Loaded Silk Sericin Nanocarriers with MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Leads to DNA Damage

“…This fact can explain the size differences between the aggregates or their shape. The nanoprecipitation appeared as a suitable self-assembling method able to optimize the nanoparticles’ features among other nanoformulation methods [ 30 , 48 , 49 ]. The nanoparticle low average dimension was directly related to some important sericin properties.…”

Crocetin as New Cross-Linker for Bioactive Sericin Nanoparticles

“…Some of its important biological properties have only recently been identified and, therefore, it is now considered a biomaterial suitable for potential wide use in pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields. The most important and wellknown sericin activities are ROS-scavenging, anti-tyrosinase, anti-elastase, and in vitro immunomodulatory activities [12,13], as well as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative effects [14,15]. Therefore, due to these many intrinsic properties, sericin can be considered an excellent ingredient and a bioactive carrier of drugs, particularly for nanoparticle formulations [16,17].…”

“…Therefore, due to these many intrinsic properties, sericin can be considered an excellent ingredient and a bioactive carrier of drugs, particularly for nanoparticle formulations [16,17]. Nevertheless, one of the limits to the use of sericin for nanoparticle formulation is related to the protein's physical-chemical characteristics; in fact, sericin alone forms unstable nanoparticles because, in an aqueous solution, the nanostructures disassemble due to its hydrophilicity [15]. Therefore, the crosslinking agents or the blending with other stabilizer polymers is required [18][19][20][21][22][23][24].…”

“…Due to the amino acid composition, sericin can interact with different cross-linkers. Glutaraldehyde is the most used, but because of its toxicity, natural ones are preferable [15]. Genipin, from fruits of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, has been proposed as a natural and non-toxic cross-linker for obtaining sericin nanoparticles [21] as well as chitosan [22].…”

Superior Technique for the Production of Agarose Dressing Containing Sericin and Its Wound Healing Property

“…Sericin is a natural protein from the silk cocoon, which is a common waste product in the fabrication industry [ 46 ]. Nonetheless, it is a biocompatible material and has several biomedical properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and wound healing acceleration effects [ 47 ]. It can activate fibroblasts to promote collagen type I synthesis, leading to wound healing promotion [ 48 ].…”