Issue 38, 2024

Immune response profiles induced by silk-based biomaterials: a journey from ‘immunogenicity’ towards ‘immuno-compatibility

Abstract

Silk is a widely accepted biomaterial for tissue regeneration owing to its tunable biomechanical properties and ease of chemical modification. However, a number of aspects associated with its clinical use are still debated. Indeed, to achieve clinical success, a biomaterial must favorably interact with host tissues without evoking local or systemic immuno-inflammatory responses. The analysis of immune responses associated with silk under in vitro and in vivo conditions provides useful insights, improving the understanding of the functional characteristics of silk biomaterials and further promoting their clinical application. Silk evokes moderate immune responses upon implantation in vivo, depending on the material structure, fabrication method, degradation time, and implantation in soft or hard tissue sites, which rapidly subside within a few days/weeks. In vitro studies indicate that its immune-stimulatory properties are largely due to inherent protein conformation and differential processing parameters. Strategically controlled levels of immune responses in vivo with marginal immunogenicity of silk-based biomaterials may contribute to matrix remodeling and replacement by native tissue matrix around the implanted site. Therefore, immunomodulatory strategies should be developed to promote the use of silk-based biomaterials as promising candidates for numerous clinical applications.

Graphical abstract: Immune response profiles induced by silk-based biomaterials: a journey from ‘immunogenicity’ towards ‘immuno-compatibility

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
06 6 2024
Accepted
20 8 2024
First published
22 8 2024

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 9508-9523

Immune response profiles induced by silk-based biomaterials: a journey from ‘immunogenicity’ towards ‘immuno-compatibility

N. Majumder, M. Bhattacharjee, G. C. Spagnoli and S. Ghosh, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, 12, 9508 DOI: 10.1039/D4TB01231C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements