title: Exploring natural silk protein sericin for regenerative medicine: an injectable, photoluminescent, cell-adhesive 3D hydrogel.
abstract: Sericin, a major component of silk, has a long history of being discarded as a waste during silk processing. The value of sericin for tissue engineering is underestimated and its potential application in regenerative medicine has just begun to be explored. Here we report the successful fabrication and characterization of a covalently-crosslinked 3D pure sericin hydrogel for delivery of cells and drugs. This hydrogel is injectable, permitting its implantation through minimally invasive approaches. Notably, this hydrogel is found to exhibit photoluminescence, enabling bioimaging and in vivo tracking. Moreover, this hydrogel system possesses excellent cell-adhesive capability, effectively promoting cell attachment, proliferation and long-term survival of various types of cells. Further, the sericin hydrogel releases bioactive reagents in a sustained manner. Additionally, this hydrogel demonstrates good elasticity, high porosity, and pH-dependent degradation dynamics, which are advantageous for this sericin hydrogel to serve as a delivery vehicle for cells and therapeutic drugs. With all these unique features, it is expected that this sericin hydrogel will have wide utility in the areas of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022 [2] Department of Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022.
authors.forename: Yeshun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022.
authors.forename: Jinxiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022.
authors.forename: Yongkui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Sericultural Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu China 212018.
authors.forename: Guozheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India 721302.
authors.forename: Subhas C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.affiliation: 1] Center for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022 [2] Medical Research Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei China 430022.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000378:metabolism; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D019245:Compressive Strength; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D004548:Elasticity; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D051379:Mice; D016062:Porosity; D044968:Regenerative Medicine; D047030:Sericins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D047011:Silk / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D047030:Sericins; D047011:Silk; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase