Search

The silkworm cocoon (SC), both as a traditional Chinese medicine and as the raw material for biocompatible carriers, has been extensively used in the medical and biomedical fields. This review elaborates on the multiple functions of SC, with an in-depth analysis of its chemical composition, biological activities, as well as its applications in modern medicine. The primary chemical components of SC include silk fibroin (SF), silk sericin (SS), and other flavonoid-like bioactive compounds demonstrating various biological effects. These include hypoglycemic, cardioprotective, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial actions, which highlight its potential therapeutic benefits. Furthermore, the review explores the applications of silk-derived materials in drug delivery systems, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and in vitro diagnostics. It also highlights the progression of SC from laboratory research to clinical trials, emphasizing the safety and efficacy of SC-based materials across multiple medical domains. Moreover, we discuss the market products developed from silk proteins, illustrating the transition from traditional uses to contemporary medical applications. This review provides support in understanding the current research status of SC and the further development and application of its derived products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rhodojaponin III (RJ-III), a characteristic diterpene of Rhododendron molle G. Don, has a wide range of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and analgesic effects. However, further research and development have been limited because of its intense acute toxicity and poor pharmacokinetic profile., Objective: In this study, we propose the construction of folic acid-conjugated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (FA-MSNs) as carriers to deliver RJ-III in an attempt to reduce acute toxicity and improve biomedical applications by prolonging drug release and targeting delivery., Methods: FA-MSNs were synthesized and characterized. RJ-III was then loaded into FA-MSNs (RJIII@ FA-MSNs), and the in vitro drug release profile was assessed. Subsequently, the RJ-III@FAMSNs' cytotoxicity and targeting efficiency were explored in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells, and their acute toxicity was investigated in mice., Results: Spherical FA-MSNs were approximately 122 nm in size. Importantly, the RJ-III@FA-MSNs showed prolonged RJ-III release in vitro . Moreover, in lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW 264.7 cells, RJ-III@FA-MSNs not only reduced the cytotoxicity of RJ-III ( P < 0.01), but also showed a good targeting effect from the results of cellular uptake. Additionally, the acute toxicity results demonstrated that RJ-III@FA-MSNs improved the LD 50 value of RJ-III in mice by intraperitoneal injection 10-fold., Conclusion: This is the first study to use FA-MSNs as carriers of RJ-III to reduce the acute toxicity of RJ-III. The results confirm the potential for targeted delivery of RJ-III in inflammatory cells to enhance efficacy, as well as providing data for future investigations on anti-inflammatory activity., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)