title: Engineered spider silk protein-based composites for drug delivery.
abstract: Silk protein-based materials are promising materials for the delivery of drugs and other active ingredients, due to their processability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. The preparation of films composed of an engineered spider silk protein (eADF4(C16)) in combination with either a polyester (polycaprolactone) or a polyurethane (pellethane), and their physical properties are described. The release profiles are affected by both the film composition and the presence of enzymes, and release can be observed over a period of several weeks. Such silk-based composites have potential as drug eluting biocompatible coatings or implantable devices.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl Biomaterialien, Fakultät für Ingenieurwissenschaften, Universität Bayreuth, Universitätsstraße 30, 95447, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leal-Egaña
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Scheibel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005349:Fibroins / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D015202:Protein Engineering; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry; D013112:Spiders / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D047011:Silk; C016240:polycaprolactone; D005349:Fibroins
keywords: biodegradable biomaterials; coatings; composites; drug delivery