Clinical Study for Silk Mat Application into Extraction Socket: A Split-Mouth, Randomized Clinical Trial

Relevant Properties and Potential Applications of Sericin in Bone Regeneration

The potential of sericin, a protein derived from silkworms, is explored in bone graft applications. Sericin's biocompatibility, hydrophilic nature, and cost-effectiveness make it a promising candidate for enhancing traditional graft materials. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and UV-resistant properties contribute to a healthier bone-healing environment, and its incorporation into 3D-printed grafts could lead to personalized medical solutions. However, despite these promising attributes, there are still gaps in our understanding. The precise mechanism through which sericin influences bone cell growth and healing is not fully understood, and more comprehensive clinical trials are needed to confirm its long-term biocompatibility in humans. Furthermore, the best methods for incorporating sericin into existing graft materials are still under investigation, and potential allergic reactions or immune responses to sericin need further study.

Silk Sericin: A Promising Sustainable Biomaterial for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

Silk is a natural composite fiber composed mainly of hydrophobic fibroin and hydrophilic sericin, produced by the silkworm Bombyx mori. In the textile industry, the cocoons of B. mori are processed into silk fabric, where the sericin is substantially removed and usually discarded in wastewater. This wastewater pollutes the environment and water sources. However, sericin has been recognized as a potential biomaterial due to its biocompatibility, immunocompatibility, biodegradability, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and photoprotective properties. Moreover, sericin can produce hydrogels, films, sponges, foams, dressings, particles, fibers, etc., for various biomedical and pharmaceutical applications (e.g., tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery, cosmetics). Given the severe environmental pollution caused by the disposal of sericin and its beneficial properties, there has been growing interest in upcycling this biomaterial, which could have a strong and positive economic, social and environmental impact.

Silk sericin-based materials for biomedical applications

Silk sericin, a natural protein extracted from silkworm cocoons, has been extensively studied and utilized in the biomedical field because of its superior biological activities and controllable chemical-physical properties. Sericin is biocompatible and naturally cell adhesive, enabling cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation in sericin-based materials. Moreover, its abundant functional groups from variable amino acids composition allow sericin to be chemically modified and cross-linked to form versatile constructs serving as alternative matrixes for biomedical applications. Recently, sericin has been constructed into various types of biomaterials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, including various bulk constructions (films, hydrogels, scaffolds, conduits, and devices) and micro-nano formulations. In this review, we systemically summarize the properties of silk sericin, introduce its different forms, and demonstrate their newly-developed as well as potential biomedical applications.

Silk sericin application increases bone morphogenic protein-2/4 expression via a toll-like receptor-mediated pathway

Bone morphogenic protein-2/4 (BMP-2/4) is an osteoinductive protein that accelerates osteogenesis when administered to bony defects. Sericin is produced by silkworms, and has a biological activity that differs depending on the degumming method used. Our results indicated that the high molecular weight fraction of silk sericin (MW > 30 kDa) obtained via sonication had a more abundant β-sheet structure than the low molecular weight fraction. Administration of the β-sheet structure silk sericin increased BMP-2/4 expression in a dose-dependent manner in RAW264.7 cells and human monocytes. This sericin increased the expression levels of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, TLR-3, and TLR-4 in RAW264.7 cells. Application of a TLR-2 antibody or TLR pathway blocker decreased BMP-2/4 expression following sericin administration. In the animal model, the bone volume and BMP-2/4 expression were higher in rats treated with a sericin-incorporated gelatin sponge than in rats treated with a gelatin sponge alone or a sponge-incorporated with denatured sericin. In conclusion, sericin with a more abundant β-sheet structure increased BMP-2/4 expression and bone formation better than sericin with a less abundant β-sheet structure.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis on Third Molar Extraction: Systematic Review of Recent Data

The aim of this paper was to highlight the most widely antibiotic protocols applied to the dental field, especially in the surgical treatment of impacted wisdom teeth. Once these protocols were screened, all the possible advantages or disadvantages for each drug and each posology were recorded in this review. In recent years, the need to use these protocols has been debated in the literature. The data obtained by this review underlined how antibiotic protocols applied to oral surgery treatments only included surgeries performed on patients who did not present other systemic pathologies. The first literature review obtained 140 results, and then after the application of the inclusion criteria, 12 papers were selected. The results showed that the most commonly used protocol involved the use of penicillin and clavulanate, obtaining safe clinical and prophylactic results in the management of infections. This widely used protocol seems to guarantee high predictability and safety. The presented review highlights the current possibility of antibiotic resistance affecting patients due to drug misuse. Further clinical studies are required to state specific guidelines; however, oral surgeons involved in third molar surgery should evaluate the local and general health conditions of the patients before suggesting any drug measures for patients.