Extraction of Silk Fibroin with Several Sericin Removal Processes and its Importance in Tissue Engineering: A Review

Sericin is a sticky protein substance, which is generated by the silk-worm for holding the filaments of silk tightly. The main constituent of natural crude silk is made up of sericin and fibroin. Fibroin and sericin play a vital role in increasing the strength, stiffness and on maintaining the constructional integrality of the cocoon. This review reports the role of several types of degumming agents for the removal of sericin from silk surfaces and an overview of silk fibroin approaches in the tissue engineering field. The prime factors responsible for the removal of sericin (degumming) from silk were systematically analyzed and discussed. The key factors affects on modification of the silk surface are includes surfactant, degumming time, temperature, advanced techniques such as ultra-sonication, microwave radiation, infrared radiation, low-temperature oxygen plasma radiation, and PH. These factors influence either individually or cumulatively at the degumming process. Tissue engineering is an emanate and most optimistic approach to restore tissue malfunction by adopting the concept of the technology being practiced using numerous biomaterials, cells, and the nutrient-specific growth factors. Different types of materials include various bio-material and mainly of silk fibroin constituent of it is conceding most optimistic biomaterials in tissue engineering application. Silk fibroin is a naturalistic protein-based polymer with an eminent physiochemical characteristic, are magnificent biocompatibility, amenable biodegradability, proper oxygen, and water-vapor permeability, and least inflammatory reaction. The critical studies accomplishing on the role of Silk fibroin and various approaches adopted in the degumming process is extensively reviewed and reported.