title: Curcumin-functionalized silk biomaterials for anti-aging utility.
abstract: Curcumin is a natural antioxidant that is isolated from turmeric (Curcuma longa) and exhibits strong free radical scavenging activity, thus functional for anti-aging. However, poor stability and low solubility of curcumin in aqueous conditions limit its biomedical applications. Previous studies have shown that the anti-oxidation activity of curcumin embedded in silk fibroin films could be well preserved, resulting in the promoted adipogenesis from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) cultured on the surface of the films. In the present study, curcumin was encapsulated in both silk fibroin films (silk/cur films) and nanoparticles (silk/cur NPs), and their anti-aging effects were compared with free curcumin in solution, with an aim to elucidate the mechanism of anti-aging of silk-associated curcumin and to better serve biomedical applications in the future. The morphology and structure of silk/cur film and silk/cur NP were characterized using SEM, FTIR and DSC, indicating characteristic stable beta-sheet structure formation in the materials. Strong binding of curcumin molecules to the beta-sheet domains of silk fibroin resulted in the slow release of curcumin with well-preserved activity from the materials. For cell aging studies, rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) were cultured in the presence of free curcumin (FC), silk/cur film and silk/cur NP, and cell proliferation and markers of aging (P53, P16, HSP70 gene expression and β-Galactosidase activity) were examined. The results indicated that cell aging was retarded in all FC, silk/cur NP and silk/cur film samples, with the silk-associated curcumin superior to the FC.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhaozhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University, Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150040, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianbing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yawen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shaozhe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: Wangxiaoqin@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, 4 Colby Street, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA. Electronic address: David.Kaplan@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D003474:Curcumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D047011:Silk / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D047011:Silk; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D003474:Curcumin
keywords: Anti-aging; Curcumin; Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs); Silk fibroin