A novel ternary magnetic nanobiocomposite based on tragacanth-silk fibroin hydrogel for hyperthermia and biological properties.

This study involves the development of a new nanocomposite material for use in biological applications. The nanocomposite was based on tragacanth hydrogel (TG), which was formed through cross-linking of Ca2+ ions with TG polymer chains. The utilization of TG hydrogel and silk fibroin as natural compounds has enhanced the biocompatibility, biodegradability, adhesion, and cell growth properties of the nanobiocomposite. This advancement makes the nanobiocomposite suitable for various biological applications, including drug delivery, wound healing, and tissue engineering. Additionally, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized in situ within the nanocomposite to enhance its hyperthermia efficiency. The presence of hydrophilic groups in all components of the nanobiocomposite allowed for good dispersion in water, which is an important factor in increasing the effectiveness of hyperthermia cancer therapy. Hemolysis and 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assays were conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the nanobiocomposite for in-vivo applications. Results showed that even at high concentrations, the nanobiocomposite had minimal hemolytic effects. Finally, the hyperthermia application of the hybrid scaffold was evaluated, with a maximum SAR value of 41.2 W/g measured in the first interval.

Dual Self-Assembly of Puerarin and Silk Fibroin into Supramolecular Nanofibrillar Hydrogel for Infected Wound Treatment.

The treatment of infected wounds remains a challenging biomedical problem. Some bioactive small-molecule hydrogelators with unique rigid structures can self-assemble into supramolecular hydrogels for wound healing. However, they are still suffered from low structural stability and bio-functionality. Herein, a supramolecular hydrogel antibacterial dressing with a dual nanofibrillar network structure is proposed. A nanofibrillar network created by a small-molecule hydrogelator, puerarin extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Pueraria, is interconnected with a secondary macromolecular silk fibroin nanofibrillar network induced by Ga ions via charge-induced supramolecular self-assembly. The resulting hydrogel features adequate mechanical strength for sustainable retention at wounds. Good biocompatibility and efficient bacterial inhibition are obtained when the Ga ion concentration is 0.05%. Otherwise, the substantial release of Ga ions and puerarin endows the hydrogel with excellent hemostatic and antioxidative properties. In vivo, evaluation of a mouse-infected wound model demonstrates that its healing effect outperformed that of a commercially available silver-containing wound dressing. The experimental group successfully achieves a 100% wound closure rate on day 10. This study sheds new light on the design of nanofibrillar hydrogels based on supramolecular self-assembly of naturally derived bioactive molecules as well as their clinical use for treating chronic infected wounds.

From Basic Principles of Protein-Polysaccharide Association to the Rational Design of Thermally Sensitive Materials.

Biology resolves design requirements toward functional materials by creating nanostructured composites, where individual components are combined to maximize the macroscale material performance. A major challenge in utilizing such design principles is the trade-off between the preservation of individual component properties and emerging composite functionalities. Here, polysaccharide pectin and silk fibroin were investigated in their composite form with pectin as a thermal-responsive ion conductor and fibroin with exceptional mechanical strength. We show that segregative phase separation occurs upon mixing, and within a limited compositional range, domains ∼50 nm in size are formed and distributed homogeneously so that decent matrix collective properties are established. The composite is characterized by slight conformational changes in the silk domains, sequestering the hydrogen-bonded ß-sheets as well as the emergence of randomized pectin orientations. However, most dominant in the composite's properties is the introduction of dense domain interfaces, leading to increased hydration, surface hydrophilicity, and increased strain of the composite material. Using controlled surface charging in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we further demonstrate Ca ions (Ca2+) diffusion in the pectin domains, with which the fingerprints of interactions at domain interfaces are revealed. Both the thermal response and the electrical conductance were found to be strongly dependent on the degree of composite hydration. Our results provide a fundamental understanding of the role of interfacial interactions and their potential applications in the design of material properties, polysaccharide-protein composites in particular.

Design and fabrication of a magnetic nanobiocomposite based on flaxseed mucilage hydrogel and silk fibroin for biomedical and in-vitro hyperthermia applications.

In this research work, a magnetic nanobiocomposite is designed and presented based on the extraction of flaxseed mucilage hydrogel, silk fibroin (SF), and Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs). The physiochemical features of magnetic flaxseed mucilage hydrogel/SF nanobiocomposite are evaluated by FT-IR, EDX, FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, VSM, and TG technical analyses. In addition to chemical characterization, given its natural-based composition, the in-vitro cytotoxicity and hemolysis assays are studied and the results are considerable. Following the use of highest concentration of magnetic flaxseed mucilage hydrogel/SF nanobiocomposite (1.75 mg/mL) and the cell viability percentage of two different cell lines including normal HEK293T cells (95.73%, 96.19%) and breast cancer BT549 cells (87.32%, 86.9%) in 2 and 3 days, it can be inferred that this magnetic nanobiocomposite is biocompatible with HEK293T cells and can inhibit the growth of BT549 cell lines. Besides, observing less than 5% of hemolytic effect can confirm its hemocompatibility. Furthermore, the high specific absorption rate value (107.8 W/g) at 200 kHz is generated by a determined concentration of this nanobiocomposite (1 mg/mL). According to these biological assays, this magnetic responsive cytocompatible composite can be contemplated as a high-potent substrate for further biomedical applications like magnetic hyperthermia treatment and tissue engineering.

Self-assembled silk fibroin cross-linked with genipin supplements microbial carbonate precipitation in building material.

The process of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) is known to effectively improve engineering properties of building materials and so does silk fibroin (SF). Thus, in this study, an attempt was taken to see the improvement in sand, that is, basic building material coupled with MICP and SF. Urease producing Bacillus megaterium was utilized for MICP in Nutri-Calci medium. To improve the strength of SF itself in bacterial solution, it was cross-linked with genipin at the optimized concentration of 3.12 mg/mL. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed the crosslinking of SF with genipin in bacterial solution. In order to understand how such cross-linking can improve engineering properties, sand moulds of 50 mm3 dimension were prepared that resulted in 35% and 55% more compressive strength than the one prepared with bacterial solution with SF and bacterial solution only, respectively with higher calcite content in former one. The FTIR, SEM, x-ray powder diffraction spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses confirmed higher biomineral precipitation in bacterial solution coupled with genipin cross-linked SF. As the process of MICP is proven to replace cement partially from concrete without negatively influence mechanical properties, SF cross-linked with genipin can provide additional significance in developing low-carbon cement-based composites.

Rhubarb charcoal-crosslinked chitosan/silk fibroin sponge scaffold with efficient hemostasis, inflammation, and angiogenesis for promoting diabetic wound healing.

Diabetic patients often experience long-term risks due to chronic inflammation and delayed re-epithelialization during impaired wound healing. Although the severity of this condition is well known, the treatment options for diabetic wounds are limited. Rhubarb charcoal, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat skin wounds for thousands of years. We produced a chitosan/silk fibroin sponge scaffold loaded with natural carbonized rhubarb and crosslinked it by freeze-drying to create a highly efficient RCS/SF scaffold. Rhubarb carbon and carboxymethyl chitosan exhibit antibacterial activity and promote wound healing. Owing to its 3D porous structure, this scaffold is antibacterial and pro-angiogenic. It also possesses remarkable properties, such as excellent swelling and biocompatibility. The supportive effect of carbonized rhubarb on mouse fibroblast migration is mediated at the cellular/tissue level by increased skin neovascularization and re-epithelization. Compared to the control group, RCS/SF scaffolds promoted faster healing, increased neovascularization, enhanced collagen deposition, and re-epithelialization within two weeks. The scaffold's pro-healing properties and efficient release of carbonized rhubarb, with rapid hemostatic and good sterilization effects, make it an outstanding candidate for treating diabetic wounds and novel therapeutic interventions for diabetic ulcers.

Magnetic xanthan gum-silk fibroin hydrogel: A nanocomposite for biological and hyperthermia applications.

A magnetic xanthan hydrogel/silk fibroin nanobiocomposite (XG hydrogel/SF/Fe3O4) was designed, fabricated, and characterized using analyzing methods such as FT-IR, EDX, FE-SEM, XRD, TGA, and VSM to evaluate the exact structure of product nanobiocomposite. The FE-SEM images reveal the presence of spherical shapes exhibiting a narrow size range and homogeneous distribution, measuring between 30 and 35 nm in diameter. The VSM analysis demonstrates the superparamagnetic properties of the XG hydrogel/SF/Fe3O4 nanobiocomposite, exhibiting a magnetic saturation of 54 emu/g at room temperature. The biological response of the nanobiocomposite scaffolds was assessed through cell viability and red blood cell hemolytic assays. MCF10A cells were exposed to a concentration of 1.75 mg/mL of the nanobiocomposite, and after 2 and 3 days, the cell viability was found to be 96.95 % and 97.02 %, respectively. The hemolytic effect was nearly 0 % even at higher concentrations (2 mg/mL). Furthermore, the magnetic nanobiocomposite showed excellent potential for hyperthermia applications, with a maximum specific absorption rate of 7 W/g for 1 mg/mL of the sample under a magnetic field in different frequencies (100, 200, 300, and 400 MHz) and 5 to 20 min time intervals.

Active colorimetric bilayer polycaprolactone-eucalyptus oil@silk fibroin-bayberry anthocyanins (PCL-EO@SF-BAs) membrane with directional water transport (DWT) for food packaging.

Currently, designing smart membranes with multifunctional effectiveness is crucial to food freshness monitoring and retention. Herein, an active colorimetric Janus bilayer membrane with directional water transport (DWT) performance is constructed by electrospinning, which comprises a hydrophilic layer of silk fibroin-bayberry anthocyanins (SF-BAs) and a hydrophobic layer of polycaprolactone-eucalyptus oil (PCL-EO). The entities of BAs and EO are well dispersed in the fiber matrix by hydrogen bonds and physical interactions, respectively. BAs endow the membrane colorimetric response and antioxidant activity, and EO contributes to the antibacterial activity while DWT performance is generated from the asymmetric wettability of the two layers. The bilayer membrane has an accumulative one-way transport index of 1077%, an overall moisture management capacity of 0.76 and a water evaporation rate of 0.48 g h-1. Moreover, the release of BAs and EO was predominantly controlled by Fickian diffusion. As a pH-sensing indicator, PCL-EO@SF-BAs is highly sensitive to external pH stimuli and the response is reversible. In addition to freshness monitoring, PCL-EO@SF-BAs can extend the shelf-life of pork beyond 100% at 4 °C. Also, it can extend the shelf life of shrimp by approximately 70% at 25 °C with the synergistic effect of antibacterial activity and the DWT performance.

A high molecular weight silk fibroin scaffold that resists degradation and promotes cell proliferation.

The regulation of the biodegradation rate of 3D-regenerated silk fibroin scaffolds and the avoidance of premature collapse are important concerns for their effective applications in tissue engineering. In this study, bromelain, which is specific to sericin, was used to remove sericin from silk, and high molecular weight silk fibroin was obtained after the fibroin fibers were dissolved. Afterwards, a 3D scaffold was prepared via freeze-drying. The Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results showed that the average molecular weight of the regenerated silk fibroin prepared by using the bromelain-degumming method was approximately 142.2 kDa, which was significantly higher than that of the control groups prepared by using the urea- and Na2 CO3 -degumming methods. The results of enzyme degradation in vitro showed that the biodegradation rate and internal three-dimensional structure collapse of the bromelain-degumming fibroin scaffolds were significantly slower than those of the two control scaffolds. The proliferation activity of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells inoculated in bromelain-degumming fibroin scaffolds was significantly higher than that of the control scaffolds. This study provides a novel preparation method for 3D-regenerated silk fibroin scaffolds that can effectively resist biodegradation, continuously guide cell growth, have good biocompatibility, and have the potential to be used for the regeneration of various connective tissues.

Biomedical applications of chitosan/silk fibroin composites: A review.

Natural polymers have been used in the biomedical fields for decades, mainly derived from animals and plants with high similarities with biomacromolecules in the human body. As an alkaline polysaccharide, chitosan (CS) attracts much attention in tissue regeneration and drug delivery with favorable biocompatibility, biodegradation, and antibacterial activity. However, to overcome its mechanical properties and degradation behavior drawbacks, a robust fibrous protein-silk fibroin (SF) was introduced to prepare the CS/SF composites. Not only can CS be combined with SF via the amide and hydrogen bond formation, but also their functions are complementary and tunable with the blending ratio. To further improve the performances of CS/SF composites, natural (e.g., hyaluronic acid and collagen) and synthetic biopolymers (e.g., polyvinyl alcohol and hexanone) were incorporated. Also, the CS/SF composites acted as slow-release carriers for inorganic non-metals (e.g., hydroxyapatite and graphene) and metal particles (e.g., silver and magnesium), which could enhance cell functions, facilitate tissue healing, and inhibit bacterial growth. This review presents the state-of-the-art and future perspectives of different biomaterials combined with CS/SF composites as sponges, hydrogels, membranes, particles, and coatings. Emphasis is devoted to the biological potentialities of these hybrid systems, which look rather promising toward a multitude of applications.

Magnetic carboxymethyl cellulose-silk fibroin hydrogel: A ternary nanobiocomposite exhibiting excellent biological activity and in vitro hyperthermia of cancer therapy.

In this work, a magnetic nanobiocomposite scaffold based on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) hydrogel, silk fibroin (SF), and magnetite nanoparticles was fabricated. The structural properties of this new magnetic nanobiocomposite were characterized by various analyses such as FT-IR, XRD, EDX, FE-SEM, TGA and VSM. According to the particle size histogram, most of the particles were between 55 and 77 nm and the value of saturation magnetization of this nanobiocomposite was reported 41.65 emu.g- 1. Hemolysis and MTT tests showed that the designed magnetic nanobiocomposite was compatible with the blood. In addition, the viability percentage of HEK293T normal cells did not change significantly, and the proliferation rate of BT549 cancer cells decreased in its vicinity. EC50 values for HEK293T normal cells after 48 h and 72 h were 3958 and 2566, respectively. Also, these values for BT549 cancer cells after 48 h and 72 h were 0.4545 and 0.9967, respectively. The efficiency of fabricated magnetic nanobiocomposite was appraised in a magnetic fluid hyperthermia manner. The specific absorption rate (SAR) of 69 W/g (for the 1 mg/mL sample at 200 kHz) was measured under the alternating magnetic field (AMF).

Skin mucus metabolomics provides insights into the interplay between diet and wound in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).

The molecular processes underlying skin wound healing in several fish species have been elucidated in the last years, however, metabolomic insights are scarce. Here we report the skin mucus metabolome of wounded and non-wounded gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) fed with silk fibroin microparticles, a functional additive considered to accelerate the wound healing process. The three experimental diets (commercial diet enriched with 0 mg (control), 50 mg or 100 mg of silk fibroin microparticles Kg-1) were administered for 30 days and thereafter, a skin wound was inflicted. Skin mucus was collected on day 30 of feeding and 7 days post-wounding and subjected to metabolomic analysis by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with a high-resolution quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry. The most enriched metabolite class was amino acids and derivatives, followed by nucleotides, nucleosides and analogues and carbohydrates and their derivatives. Metabolomic profiles revealed that the diet had a more profound effect than wounding in skin mucus. Metabolic pathway analysis of significantly affected metabolites revealed perturbations in the aminoacyl t-RNA biosynthesis in the skin. In particular, skin wound resulted in a decreased methionine level in mucus. Further, silk fibroin supplementation increased methionine level in skin mucus, which correlated with several wound morphometric parameters that characterized the epithelial healing capacity in seabream. The results provided new insight into the physiological consequences of skin wounds and how these processes could be influenced by dietary manipulation.

Selenium Silk Nanostructured Films with Antifungal and Antibacterial Activity.

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant bacteria and fungi poses a threat for healthcare worldwide. The development of novel effective small molecule therapeutic strategies in this space has remained challenging. Therefore, one orthogonal approach is to explore biomaterials with physical modes of action that have the potential to generate antimicrobial activity and, in some cases, even prevent antimicrobial resistance. Here, to this effect, we describe an approach for forming silk-based films that contain embedded selenium nanoparticles. We show that these materials exhibit both antibacterial and antifungal properties while crucially also remaining highly biocompatible and noncytotoxic toward mammalian cells. By incorporating the nanoparticles into silk films, the protein scaffold acts in a 2-fold manner; it protects the mammalian cells from the cytotoxic effects of the bare nanoparticles, while also providing a template for bacterial and fungal eradication. A range of hybrid inorganic/organic films were produced and an optimum concentration was found, which allowed for both high bacterial and fungal death while also exhibiting low mammalian cell cytotoxicity. Such films can thus pave the way for next-generation antimicrobial materials for applications such as wound healing and as agents against topical infections, with the added benefit that bacteria and fungi are unlikely to develop antimicrobial resistance to these hybrid materials.

Sericultural By-Products: The Potential for Alternative Therapy in Cancer Drug Design.

Major progress has been made in cancer research; however, cancer remains one of the most important health-related burdens. Sericulture importance is no longer limited to the textile industry, but its by-products, such as silk fibroin or mulberry, exhibit great impact in the cancer research area. Fibroin, the pivotal compound that is found in silk, owns superior biocompatibility and biodegradability, representing one of the most important biomaterials. Numerous studies have reported its successful use as a drug delivery system, and it is currently used to develop three-dimensional tumor models that lead to a better understanding of cancer biology and play a great role in the development of novel antitumoral strategies. Moreover, sericin's cytotoxic effect on various tumoral cell lines has been reported, but also, it has been used as a nanocarrier for target therapeutic agents. On the other hand, mulberry compounds include various bioactive elements that are well known for their antitumoral activities, such as polyphenols or anthocyanins. In this review, the latest progress of using sericultural by-products in cancer therapy is discussed by highlighting their notable impact in developing novel effective drug strategies.

Silk nanoparticles for the protection and delivery of guava leaf (Psidium guajava L.) extract for cosmetic industry, a new approach for an old herb.

Guava (Psidium guajava L.) is a well-known plant containing high levels of natural antioxidants, the phenolic compounds, which have been employed in numerous cosmetic products. However, these molecules are unstable to oxidants, light, temperature, pH, water, and enzymatic activities. Therefore, to enhance their stability and preserve their antioxidant activity, this study investigated the silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNs) ability to encapsulate, deliver, and heat-protect the phenolic compounds of the guava leaves ethanolic extract. Firstly, the guava ethanolic extract was produced by maceration, which possessed a total phenolic content of 312.6 mg GAE/g DPW and a high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 5.397 ± 0.618 µg/mL). Then, the extract loaded SFNs were manufactured by desolvation method, and the particles demonstrated appropriate sizes of 200-700 nm with narrow size distribution, spherical shape, silk-II crystalline structure, high drug entrapment efficiency of > 70% (dependent on the fibroin content), and a two-phase sustained drug release for at least 210 min. Using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the antioxidant activity of the guava extract was well-preserved in the extract loaded SFNs. Finally, after being treated with high temperature of 70 °C for 24 h, the guava extract almost loses all of its antioxidant property (5 times decrement), whereas the extract loaded SFNs could retain the extract activity. Conclusively, the SFNs proved much potential to deliver and heat-protect the guava extract phenolic compounds, and preserve their antioxidant activity. Confirmed by this case, SFNs could be further explored in protecting other natural compounds from environmental factors.

Research Progress of Novel Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Medicine Monomers based on Natural Silk Fibroin: A Mini-Review.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a good curative effect, but its disadvantages include complex components, poor drug stability, potential drug interaction, etc. Therefore, it is particularly important to construct a novel drug delivery system that can load Chinese medicine monomers to solve this problem. Silk fibroin is a kind of natural polymer material with unique properties. It can be used as a carrier material to load Chinese medicine monomers to prepare novel drug delivery systems that significantly affect treating diseases without toxic and side effects. However, there is still a lack of a review on silk fibroin as a carrier material to load Chinese medicine monomers to explore and analyze the current research results and progress. Here, our article focuses on the in-depth excavation and analysis of the recent research on novel drug delivery systems prepared by silk fibroin and TCM monomers. Besides, the characteristics, existing problems, and prospects of silk fibroin are discussed and explained. It is hoped that this research can provide a reference and basis for the modernization of TCM, the design of novel drug delivery systems, the research and development of new drugs in the future, and contribute to the innovation of silk protein.

Injectable methacrylated gelatin/thiolated pectin hydrogels carrying melatonin/tideglusib-loaded core/shell PMMA/silk fibroin electrospun fibers for vital pulp regeneration.

Use of injectable hydrogels attract attention in the regeneration of dental pulp due to their ability to fill non-uniform voids such as pulp cavities. Here, gelatin methacrylate/thiolated pectin hydrogels (GelMA/PecTH) carrying electrospun core/shell fibers of melatonin (Mel)-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/Tideglusib (Td)-silk fibroin (SF) were designed as an injectable hydrogel for vital pulp regeneration, through prolonged release of Td and Mel to induce proliferation and odontoblastic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells (DPSC). H NMR and FTIR confirmed methacrylation of Gel and thiolation of Pec. Addition of PMMA/SF increased degradation and water retention capacities of GelMA/PecTH. Rheological analyses and syringe tests proved the injectability of the hydrogel systems. Release studies indicated that Td and Mel were released from the fibers inside the hydrogels sequentially due to their specific locations. This release pattern from the hydrogels resulted in DPSC proliferation and odontogenic differentiation in vitro. Gene expression studies showed that the upregulation of DMP1, DSPP, and Axin-2 genes was promoted by GelMA/PecTH carrying PMMA/SF loaded with Mel (50 µg/mL) and Td (200 nM), respectively. Our results suggest that this hydrogel system holds promise for use in the regeneration of pulp tissue.

A novel magnetic nanocomposite based on alginate-tannic acid hydrogel embedded with silk fibroin with biological activity and hyperthermia application.

In the current study, sodium alginate (SA) and tannic acid (TA), in the presence of calcium chloride as a cross-linker, were used to fabricate a nanocomposite scaffold. With the addition of silk fibroin (SF), the strength of the synthesized composite was increased. Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) led to the usage of this magnetic nanocomposite in hyperthermia applications. Various properties of this scaffold were investigated by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR), energy dispersive X-Ray (EDX), Vibrating- sample magnetometer (VSM). A hemolytic assay of this magnetic nanocomposite demonstrated that about 100 % of red blood cells (RBCs) survived at a concentration of 2 mg/ml, proving this scaffold is hemocompatible. Furthermore, an MTT assay was utilized to assess the cytotoxicity of the synthesized magnetic nanocomposite. Finally, the hyperthermia behavior of the fabricated magnetic nanocomposite was evaluated, and the specific absorption rate (SAR) was 73.53 W/g. The proposed nanocomposite is a good candidate for wound dressing applications in future studies.

Magnetic chitosan-silk fibroin hydrogel/graphene oxide nanobiocomposite for biological and hyperthermia applications.

This work represents a biocompatible magnetic nanobiocomposite prepared by the composition of chitosan (CS) hydrogel, silk fibroin (SF), graphene oxide (GO), and Fe3O4 NPs. Terephthaloyl thiourea was applied as a cross-linking agent to cross-link the CS strings. The CS hydrogel/SF/GO/Fe3O4 nanobiocomposite with many characteristics, such as high structural uniformity, thermal stability, biocompatibility, and stability in an aqueous solution. Various characteristics of this novel magnetic nanobiocomposite were distinguished by FT-IR, EDX, FE-SEM, XRD, TGA, and VSM analysis. The FE-SEM images were taken to evaluate the size distribution of the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) between 39.9 and 73.3 nm as well. The performance of the prepared nanobiocomposite was assessed by the magnetic fluid hyperthermia process. Under the alternating magnetic field (AMF), the mean value of the specific absorption rate (SAR) was determined at 43.15 w/g.

Therapeutic Applications of Garlic and Turmeric for the Diabetic Wound Healing in Mice.

Diabetes is involved in delayed wound healing that can be cured by natural products such as garlic, turmeric, and fibroin extracts. Alloxan monohydrate is used for inducing diabetes in mice. The percent wound contraction of garlic (150 mg/ml), turmeric (100 mg/ml), and fibroin (50 mg/ml), individually and in combinations garlic (150 mg/ml) + fibroin (50 mg/ml), turmeric (100 mg/ml) + fibroin (50 mg/ml), garlic (150 mg/ml) + turmeric (100 mg/ml), and garlic (150 mg/ml) + turmeric (100 mg/ml) + fibroin (50 mg/ml) was checked by evaluating the healing time, % wound contraction and histological analysis. The serum level of MMPs (MMP 2, MMP7, MMP 9), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8), and TIMPs were evaluated. With the combination of three extracts (Ga+Tu+Fi) garlic (150 mg/ml), turmeric (100 mg/ml) and fibroin (50 mg/ml), wounds healed in 12 days and had 97.3 ± 2.2% wound contraction. While the positive control (polyfax) and diabetic control (saline) wounds healed in 17- and 19-days with wound contraction of 96.7 ± 1.4% and 96.3 ± 1.1%, respectively. Histological analysis showed that the combination of Ga+Tu+Fi exhibited an increase in the growth of collagen fibers, fibroblasts number, and keratinocytes, and lessened inflammation of blood vessels. The combination of Ga+Tu+Fi significantly alleviated the serum concentration of TNF-α (14.2 ± 0.7 pg/ml), IL-6 (10.0 ± 1.0 pg/ml), IL-8 (16.0 ± 1.5 pg/ml), MMP2 (228.0 ± 18.1 pg/ml), MMP7 (271.0 ± 9.9 pg/ml), and MMP9 (141.0 ± 5.3 pg/ml) to diabetic control. The level of TIMPs (193.0 ± 9.1 pg/ml) was increased significantly with respect to diabetic control. We conclude that the combination of these biomaterials possessed high regenerative and healing capabilities and can be an effective remedy in the healing of chronic wounds in diabetic patients.