Silk fibroin and spidroin bioengineering constructions for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering

Abstract

The review is about the developments of modern bioengineering constructs from two unique biopolymers: the main protein of silkworm silk, fibroin, and frame silk of spider web, spidroin, and their applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Both types of polymers possess such important properties as biocompatibility, biodegradability, high strength and elasticity. Availability of silkworm cocoons in nature, debugged methods of fibroin purification make this protein very perspective in bioengineering constructs. A spider web protein, spidroin, is less common in nature, but the development of alternative methods for its production makes it a promising biopolymer. The structure and properties of silk fibroin and spidroin, their advantages over other natural and synthetic polymers, technologies of biopolymer construct fabrication are considered in this review. Silk fibroin and spidroin are shown to be applied for creation of 3D matrices promoting regeneration of damaged organs and tissues, biodegradable cell carriers and pharmaceutical preparations.