The development of a novel wound healing material, silk-elastin sponge

Abstract

Silk-elastin is a recombinant protein polymer with repeating units of silk and elastin blocks. This novel wound healing promoting material has the ability to self-assemble from a liquid to a gel. We have already reported that an aqueous solution of silk-elastin has the potential to accelerate wound healing; however, there are several problems in applying silk-elastin in the clinical setting. To solve these problems, we developed a silk-elastin sponge that is easy to use in the clinical setting. In the present study, we examined whether the wound healing effect of the silk-elastin sponge is equal to the aqueous solution of silk-elastin in vivo. The granulation tissue formation promoting effect of the silk-elastin sponge was equal to that of the aqueous solution the silk-elastin, as after application to the wound surface, the sponge was absorbed and dissolved by the exudate. At body temperature the silk-elastin then formed temperature gel. The silk-elastin gel that was obtained contained abundant cytokines from the exudate. We believe that silk-elastin sponge can be applied to various wounds that are difficult to treat with the aqueous solution.

Characterization and Toxicity Evaluation of Broiler Skin Elastin for Potential Functional Biomaterial in Tissue Engineering

“…Elastin can also be used in combination with other biopolymers [ 26 ]. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that biomaterials resembling elastin have biological and physical benefits [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. The capacity to fine-tune elastin compositions has sparked a surge in interest for their use as biomaterials.…”

Emerging Role of Elastin-Like Polypeptides in Regenerative Medicine

“…Kawabata et al have described development of a flexible silk-elastin sponge for a clinical setting using the recombinant silk-elastin protein polymer consisting of the SF-derived sequence (GAGAGS) and human elastin-derived sequence (GVGVP). 69 It was found that postadministration, the silk-elastin sponge was absorbed and dissolved by the exudate. A silk-elastin sponge, 12.5 or 25 mg/cm 3 in density, could be easily applied to a full-thickness skin wound in guinea pigs to promote stable wound healing.…”

Clinical Utility of Silk-Elastin Sponge in Patients with Chronic and Acute Skin Ulcers: Study Protocol of a Multicenter Clinical Trial

“…Silk-elastins are artificial proteins that were developed by genetic engineering and biological production methods using Escherichia coli [7]. Silk-elastins have a unique feature of temperature-mediated self-gelation [8], which has led to the development of biomaterials using silk-elastin: delivery systems for drugs and viruses [9,10], 3-dimensional tissue-engineering scaffolds [11], and wound healing materials [12][13][14][15]. We have previously shown with in vitro studies and animal models that SE-P47K, a type of silk-elastin, promotes wound healing [13][14][15][16].…”

“…Silk-elastins have a unique feature of temperature-mediated self-gelation [8], which has led to the development of biomaterials using silk-elastin: delivery systems for drugs and viruses [9,10], 3-dimensional tissue-engineering scaffolds [11], and wound healing materials [12][13][14][15]. We have previously shown with in vitro studies and animal models that SE-P47K, a type of silk-elastin, promotes wound healing [13][14][15][16]. Specifically, the water-soluble form of SE-P47K enhances the migration of fibroblasts and macrophages and induces collagen production in fibroblasts in vitro [16].…”

“…Specifically, the water-soluble form of SE-P47K enhances the migration of fibroblasts and macrophages and induces collagen production in fibroblasts in vitro [ 16 ]. Applying SE-P47K solution or sponge to pressure sores of db/db mice reduced bacterial growth and promoted granulation tissue formation in comparison with control or carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels [ 13 , 15 ].…”