Silk sericin is a natural polymer produced by silkworm Bombyx mori; which has the function of covering the fibroin filaments so that they remain linked together as well as maintaining the structural integrity of the cocoon. Despite its properties and benefits, sericin is currently discarded during textile production as it is considered a side product of silk cocoons during the degumming process. Among the most important biological properties of sericin are good oxygen permeability, moisture-regulating capacity, resistance to UV radiation, ability to promotes cell growth, biocompatibility and mitogenic effect. All these characteristics make sericin a promising polymer to be used in biomedical applications, especially in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Some studies report that sericin favors the biological nature of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, potentializing it as a biomaterial for the repair of epithelial tissue, mainly utilized as wound dressing. Given the importance that sericin can have in the field of bioengineering, and that its use can favor the sericulture agroindustry, this manuscript reviews recent studies of this protein for its application in tissue engineering, specifically for cutaneous regeneration.

Sericin is a globular protein that represents 20% to 30% of the silk fiber from Bombyx mori silkworm cocoon. This protein is usually removed from the raw fiber and discarded by silk producers, a process known as degumming. However, sericin possesses significant biological properties that allows its application in various fields. The antioxidant activity is one of its most relevant benefits. Several authors have reported its anti-tyrosinase activity, lipid peroxidation inhibition and free radical neutralization. The antioxidant potential of sericin protein varies according to the extraction method used. Even though a wide variety of extraction techniques have been studied, simple technics including water at high temperature have exhibited efficient results. Furthermore, this method does not interfere with the safety of sericin for subsequent applications in food.

The use of silk proteins sericin (SS) and fibroin (SF) has been increased for biomedical applications. In order to improve their behavior inside of biological environment, silk biomaterials must be treated after their manufacturing by means of diverse methods. These include ethanol post-treatments to increase their crystallinity, mechanical properties and water stability. In this study, the effect of ethanol post-treatments on the properties of silk protein materials was evaluated. Defective cocoons and silk fibrous waste (SW) were used to obtain silk sericin sponges (S-SS) and silk fibroin films (F-SF), respectively. Two ethanol treatments were evaluated in SS and SF: immersion (I) and solvent vapor annealing (SVA). Morphological modifications induced by ethanol post-treatments were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Conformational structure of the samples was analyzed by attenuated total reflectance–Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR), and the thermal properties were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. SEM images revealed that ethanol process induces changes in treated F-SF and S-SS, the material surfaces are more roughness, and these effects were more pronounced in samples treated by I than that subjected to SVA. As a result of the ethanol treatments, the ATR–FTIR and DSC results showed an increment in relative content of β-sheet structures in both silk protein materials. The results suggest that ethanol post-treatments induce conformational transitions and morphological modifications in S-SS and F-SF that should be considered to select the post-treatment conditions according to the biomedical application requirements.

Feeding a growing population under the pressures of climate change requires solutions that safeguard yields while strengthening agricultural resilience. Integrated Crop Management (ICM)—which combines precise fertilization, efficient water use, and targeted pest control—offers a promising framework. Hydrogels, with their water retention and controlled release properties, can enhance ICM by improving fertilizer efficiency, reducing water loss, and supporting soil health. Despite extensive research, their optimal use in agriculture remains unclear, and limitations continue to restrict large-scale adoption. To address this gap, this study applies the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology alongside bibliometric analysis to examine hydrogel applications in ICM from 2000 to 2024. Ninety Scopus-indexed publications were analyzed across four domains: pesticides, nutritional growth inputs, soil conditioners, and bioactive substances. The results reveal a marked increase in hydrogel structural complexity, greater diversity in characterization methods, ongoing reliance on high-impact pesticides despite advances in bio-based hydrogels, and persistent gaps in assessing environmental impacts and regulatory compliance. These findings underscore the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry to translate hydrogel research into effective, sustainable agricultural practices under changing climatic conditions.

Silk sericin (SS)–based hydrogels show promise for wound healing due to their biocompatibility, moisture regulation, and cell proliferation properties. However, there is still a need to develop green crosslinking methods to obtain non-toxic, absorbent, and mechanically strong SS hydrogels. This study investigated the effects of three green crosslinking methods, annealing treatment (T), exposure to an absolute ethanol vapor atmosphere (V.E), and water vapor (V.A), on the physicochemical and mechanical properties of SS and poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) biohydrogels. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to determine chemical structures. Thermal properties and morphological changes were studied through thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The water absorption capacity, mass loss, sericin release in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and compressive strength were also evaluated. The results showed that physical crosslinking methods induced different structural transitions in the biohydrogels, impacting their mechanical properties. In particular, V.A hydrogen presented the highest compressive strength at 80% deformation owing to its compact and porous structure with crystallization and bonding sites. Moreover, both the V.A and T hydrogels exhibited improved absorption capacity, stability, and slow SS release in PBS. These results demonstrate the potential of green physical crosslinking techniques for producing SS/PVA biomaterials for wound healing applications.