A review of silk fibroin-based drug delivery systems and their applications

Abstract

Silk proteins are highly versatile materials known for their exceptional biodegradability and biocompatibility, making them valuable for diverse applications across various sectors. Notably, they are progressively utilized in photonics, electronics, and optoelectronics, where their unique properties support their use in diverse products, from light-emitting devices to high-speed data transmission systems. Beyond these technological applications, silk proteins hold significant potential in the biomedical field. Silk fibroin (SF) is the major constituent of naturally produced silk fibres and exhibits interesting properties such as solubility, stability, mechanical strength, and ease of chemical modification, all of which are influenced by its primary protein sequence, especially the beta-sheet forming segments. Consequently, silk fibroin is considered an ideal material for developing biomedical devices, including drug delivery systems, targeted cancer treatments, implants and surgical sutures, etc. Depending on the specific application, silk can be engineered to develop macro-molecule, targeted, and nano-drug delivery systems. The formulation of silk fibroin nanoparticles is influenced by various factors that affect their properties and efficacy in drug delivery systems, such as the size and shape of the nanoparticles, the concentration of silk fibroin, and the preparation method. This review delves into key strategies for developing diverse drug delivery systems using silk fibroin. It highlights the latest advancements in developing targeted drug delivery systems with SF, emphasising its applications in diabetes, gene therapy, cancer treatment, and more. Overall, SF emerge as a promising biodegradable material with enormous potential in numerous therapeutic and biomedical applications.