Silk Fibroin Hydrogels Could Be Therapeutic Biomaterials for Neurological Diseases
Chun Yang, Sunao Li, Xinqi Huang, Xueshi Chen, Haiyan Shan, Xiping Chen, Luyang Tao, Mingyang Zhang
Abstract
Silk fibroin, a natural macromolecular protein without physiological activity, has been widely used in different fields, such as the regeneration of bones, cartilage, nerves, and other tissues. Due to irrevocable neuronal injury, the treatment and prognosis of neurological diseases need to be investigated. Despite attempts to propel neuroprotective therapeutic approaches, numerous attempts to translate effective therapies for brain disease have been largely unsuccessful. As a good candidate for biomedical applications, hydrogels based on silk fibroin effectively amplify their advantages. The ability of nerve tissue regeneration, inflammation regulation, the slow release of drugs, antioxidative stress, regulation of cell death, and hemostasis could lead to a new approach to treating neurological disorders. In this review, we introduced the preparation of SF hydrogels and then delineated the probable mechanism of silk fibroin in the treatment of neurological diseases. Finally, we showed the application of silk fibroin in neurological diseases.