Spidroin in carbopol‐based gel promotes wound healing in earthworm's skin model

Abstract

Spider silk's regenerative, biocompatible, and antimicrobial properties render it a promising biomaterial for wound healing promotion. Spidroin as the main protein component of spider silks was used in this study to evaluate the potential effects on wound healing via topical application of novel spidroin‐containing carbopol 934 (CP934) gel. Spidroin was extracted, formulated into CP934 gel, and characterized both in vitro and in vivo. Spidroin gel was translucent and brownish‐yellow in color. An optimum viscosity was obtained at 0.6% CP934 at neutral pH. Optimized spidroin gel (0.6% CP934) effectively inhibited the growth of clinical bacterial isolates of methicillin‐sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli at 440 μg/mL with MIC values of 0.98, 4.6, and 8.2 μg/mL, respectively. Optimized spidroin gel was evaluated for wound healing via topical application on wounds surgically induced in Allolobophora caliginosa earthworms used as a robust human skin model. After application for three consecutive days, dramatic reductions in wound closure and reepithelialization duration were observed macroscopically and via histological studies (light and electron microscopy) when compared with control. In conclusion, these results show that spidroin gel is a promising promoter for wound healing, and further studies would be directed toward investigating mechanisms underlying this effect.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: The assessment of the protective impact of spidroin extract against UV-A radiation damage by using earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa) as a robust human skin model via macroscopic and histological observations

“…Numerous scientists are intrigued by the earthworms' amazing capacity to regenerate (CHO et al 2001;Shao et al 2020). Thus, they have researched their regeneration (Allolobophora caliginosa) (Rosi and Giovannini 1971;Koritsánszky 1974;Koritsánszky and Hartwig 1974;Gałuszka et al 2015;Abd Ellah et al 2019).…”

“…Following a literature review using earthworms as a model for examining environmental risk factors, only a few studies on earthworms were established (Albro et al 1997;Misra et al 2005;Hirano and Tamae 2010;Abd Ellah et al 2019). Earthworms are used in preclinical studies instead of higher laboratory animals because they are plain, inexpensive, and responsive animal models (Misra et al 2005).…”

Rational of Invertebrates and Herbs Extracts for Protection and Management of Coronavirus (COVID 19)

“…Natural products have been used widely in folk medicine for various purposes since ancient times. It is estimated that more than 70% of all existing pharmaceutical products are focused on natural compounds (Wangchuk, 2018, Abd Ellah NH, Abd El-Aziz, et al,2019. The use of invertebrates along with their natural derived products as medicines is one of the features of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).…”

Towards Study of UV-C Radiation Effect on Earthworms and Isopods Via Electron Microscopy

“…Earthworms were used as an alternative model of human skin based on reported similarity to human skin; both contain triene and tetraene sterols (Abd Ellah et al, 2019 andAlbro, et al,1997). They were utilized as a model to study the phototoxic effects of UV rays on the skin and as a predictor of environmental risk factors (Albro et al,1997, Hirano &Tamae, 2010and Misra, et al, 2005.…”

“…They were utilized as a model to study the phototoxic effects of UV rays on the skin and as a predictor of environmental risk factors (Albro et al,1997, Hirano &Tamae, 2010and Misra, et al, 2005. Notably, earthworms are considered a simple, cheap and sensitive animal model for preclinical studies, rather than using the higher laboratory animals (Abd El-Aziz & Bashandy, 2019, Abd Ellah et al, 2019, and Misra, et al, 2005.…”