The golden rule in tissue engineering is the creation of a synthetic device that simulates the native tissue, thus leading to the proper restoration of its anatomical and functional integrity, avoiding the limitations related to approaches based on autografts and allografts. The emergence of synthetic biocompatible materials has led to the production of innovative scaffolds that, if combined with cells and/or bioactive molecules, can improve tissue regeneration. In the last decade, silk fibroin (SF) has gained attention as a promising biomaterial in regenerative medicine due to its enhanced bio/cytocompatibility, chemical stability, and mechanical properties. Moreover, the possibility to produce advanced medical tools such as films, fibers, hydrogels, 3D porous scaffolds, non-woven scaffolds, particles or composite materials from a raw aqueous solution emphasizes the versatility of SF. Such devices are capable of meeting the most diverse tissue needs; hence, they represent an innovative clinical solution for the treatment of bone/cartilage, the cardiovascular system, neural, skin, and pancreatic tissue regeneration, as well as for many other biomedical applications. The present narrative review encompasses topics such as (i) the most interesting features of SF-based biomaterials, bare SF’s biological nature and structural features, and comprehending the related chemo-physical properties and techniques used to produce the desired formulations of SF; (ii) the different applications of SF-based biomaterials and their related composite structures, discussing their biocompatibility and effectiveness in the medical field. Particularly, applications in regenerative medicine are also analyzed herein to highlight the different therapeutic strategies applied to various body sectors.

Over the last decades, cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂ NPs) have gained great interest due to their potential applications, mainly in the fields of agriculture and biomedicine. Promising effects of CeO₂ NPs are recently shown in some neurodegenerative diseases, but the mechanism of action of these NPs in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains to be investigated. This issue is addressed in the present study by using a yeast model based on the heterologous expression of the human α-synuclein (α-syn), the major component of Lewy bodies, which represent a neuropathological hallmark of PD. We observed that CeO₂ NPs strongly reduce α-syn-induced toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. This effect is associated with the inhibition of cytoplasmic α-syn foci accumulation, resulting in plasma membrane localization of α-syn after NP treatment. Moreover, CeO₂ NPs counteract the α-syn-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and decrease reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in yeast cells. In vitro binding assay using cell lysates showed that α-syn is adsorbed on the surface of CeO₂ NPs, suggesting that these NPs may act as a strong inhibitor of α-syn toxicity not only acting as a radical scavenger, but through a direct interaction with α-syn in vivo.

The design and development of engineered micro and nano-carriers offering superior therapeutic performance compared to traditional delivery forms, are crucial in pharmaceutical research. Aerosolization and inhalation of carriers with improved solubility/stability of insoluble drugs, has huge potential for targeted drug delivery (DD) in various pulmonary diseases. Indeed, dedicated carriers must meet specific dimensional rules for proper lung delivery. Particles between 2–10 μm in size are normally deposited in the tracheobronchial region, while particles of 0.5–2 μm may be properly deposited in the alveoli. In this work, we report the development of inhalable nanostructured carries made of a ‘green’ bio-inspired polymer from aqueous solutions, i.e. silk fibroin (SF), efficiently loaded with a hydrophobic drug, i.e. the thyroid hormone levothyroxine (L-T4), a drug for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The aim is to optimize a standard method for the synthesis of SF-based nanocarriers with controlled size and shape, where a fine control of their geometrical properties is aimed at efficiently controlling the pulmonary DD. L-T4 loaded SF particles were synthesized through a one-pot co-precipitation method. Optimized systems were determined by varying the chemo–physical parameters during the synthesis. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used to remove CaCO₃ cores. The proposed synthesis routes have led to two SF structures, whose structural heterogeneity and nanostructured morphology have been demonstrated using fluorescence microscopy, DLS, SEM and EDX. Two systems with varying shape and size have been obtained: (i) a flat disk-like SF structure with an irregular surface and an in-plane length of about 1–2 μm; (ii) solid SF nanospheres, obtained using ethylene glycol as additive, showing two size populations (main diameters of 0.5 μm and 1.7 μm). Solid nanospherical systems, in particular, show a tendency to arrange into agglomerates that, when loosely bound into smaller particles, can facilitate the delivery at the alveoli. Both formulations exhibited similar drug loading efficiencies, evaluated by HPLC analysis. However, SF nanospheres showed greater in vitro drug release after 24 hours. The demonstrated control over the characteristics imparted to the proposed DD systems may be critical to select the most suitable size/shape to achieve high rates of delivery to the appropriate lung compartment.

The combination of green manufacturing approaches and bioinspired materials is growingly emerging in different scenarios, in particular in medicine, where widespread medical devices (MDs) as commercial electrodes for electrophysiology strongly increase the accumulation of solid waste after use. Electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes exploit electrolytic gels to allow the high-quality recording of heart signals. Beyond their nonrecyclability/nonrecoverability, gel drying also affects the signal quality upon prolonged monitoring of biopotentials. Moreover, gel composition often causes skin reactions. This study aims to address the above limitation by presenting a composite based on the combination of silk sericin (SS) as a structural material, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a robustness enhancer, and CaCl₂ as a plasticizer. SS/PVA/CaCl₂ formulations, optimized in terms of weight content (wt %) of single constituents, result in a biocompatible, biodegradable "green" material (free from potentially irritating cross-linking agents) that is, above all, self-adhesive on skin. The best formulation, i.e., SS(4 wt %)/PVA(4 wt %)/CaCl₂(20 wt %), in terms of long-lasting skin adhesion (favored by calcium-ion coordination in the presence of environmental/skin humidity) and time-stability of electrode impedance, is used to assemble ECG electrodes showing quality trace recording over longer time scales (up to 6 h) than commercial electrodes. ECG recording is performed using customized electronics coupled to an app for data visualization.

In the last decades, nanotechnology-based tools have attracted attention in the scientific community, due to their potential applications in different areas from medicine to engineering, but several toxicological effects mediated by these advanced materials have been shown on the environment and human health. At present, the effects of engineered nanomaterials on gametogenesis have not yet been well understood. In the present study, we addressed this issue using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model eukaryote to evaluate the effects of cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) on sporulation, a process equivalent to gametogenesis in higher organisms. We have observed that CdS QDs cause a strong inhibition of spore development with the formation of aberrant, multinucleated cells. In line with these observations, treatment with CdS QDs down-regulates genes encoding crucial regulators of sporulation process, in particular, the transcription factor Ndt80 that coordinates different genes involved in progression through the meiosis and spore morphogenesis. Down-regulation of NDT80 mediated by CdS QDs causes a block of the meiotic cell cycle and a return to mitosis, leading to the formation of aberrant, multinucleated cells. These results indicate that CdS QDs inhibit gametogenesis in an irreversible manner, with adverse effects on cell-cycle progression.

In a world characterized by rapid industrialization and a growing population, plastic or polymeric waste handling has undergone significant transformations. Recycling has become a major strategy where silk sericin has great potential among recyclable polymers. This naturally occurring biopolymer is a sustainable and versatile material with a wide range of potential uses in biotechnology and sensing. Furthermore, preparing and studying new environmentally friendly functional polymers with attractive physicochemical properties can open new opportunities for developing next-generation materials and composites. Herein, we provide an overview of the advances in the research studies of silk sericin as a functional and eco-friendly material, considering its biocompatibility and unique physicochemical properties. The structure of silk sericin and the extraction procedures, considering the influence of preparation methods on its properties, are described. Sericin’s intrinsic properties, including its ability to crosslink with other polymers, its antioxidative capacity, and its biocompatibility, render it a versatile material for multifunctional applications across diverse fields. In biotechnology, the ability to blend sericin with other polymers enables the preparation of materials with varied morphologies, such as films and scaffolds, exhibiting enhanced mechanical strength and anti-inflammatory effects. This combination proves particularly advantageous in tissue engineering and wound healing. Furthermore, the augmentation of mechanical strength, coupled with the incorporation of plasticizers, makes sericin films suitable for the development of epidermal electrodes. Simultaneously, by precisely controlling hydration and permeability, the same material can be tailored for applications in packaging and the food industry. This work highlights the multidisciplinary and multifunctional nature of sericin, emphasizing its broad applicability.