Biodegradation of silk biomaterials

Int J Mol Sci. 2009 Mar 31;10(4):1514-1524. doi: 10.3390/ijms10041514.

Abstract

Silk fibroin from the silkworm, Bombyx mori, has excellent properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradation, non-toxicity, adsorption properties, etc. As a kind of ideal biomaterial, silk fibroin has been widely used since it was first utilized for sutures a long time ago. The degradation behavior of silk biomaterials is obviously important for medical applications. This article will focus on silk-based biomaterials and review the degradation behaviors of silk materials.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Enzymatic Degradation; Silk Biomaterials.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biocompatible Materials / metabolism*
  • Bombyx / metabolism
  • Chymotrypsin / metabolism
  • Fibroins / chemistry
  • Fibroins / metabolism
  • Pronase / metabolism
  • Sericins / chemistry
  • Sericins / metabolism
  • Silk / chemistry
  • Silk / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Sericins
  • Silk
  • Fibroins
  • Chymotrypsin
  • Pronase