ELECTROSPUN SERICIN-PVA MAT AS A PROSPECTIVE WOUND DRESSING MATERIAL

摘要

Electrospun sericin-PVA mat as a prospective wound dressing material An important constituent of silk is the naturally occurring protein of sericin. Constituting about 25-30% of the total protein from silkworms, this sericin enwraps the fibroin fibers which together form the cocoons. Sericin protein is a macromolecular protein and is hydrophilic in nature. The protein possesses many abilities which facilitate it finding applications as a biomaterial. Recent studies have also shown wound dressing abilities of this protein. The present study aims to develop a skin wound dressing material of sericin and PVA (poly vinyl alcohol). This wound dressing material was fabricated using the electrospinning mechanism. The sericin-PVA electrospun mats displayed swelling properties in PBS (phosphate buffer saline) and a controlled release of sericin was observed from the mats. The degradation studies exhibited a slow rate of degradation of electrospun mats. The sericin-PVA mats depicted high anti-microbial properties allowing little microbial penetration. Another experiment to study the antibacterial property also displayed retarded bacterial growth in presence of sericin. The SEM (scanning electron microscopy) analysis portrayed that the mat had non-woven randomly arranged nanofibers, with diameter in the range of 120 to 170 nm. Total phenolic content and the antioxidant activity of the extracted sericin were studied along with scavenging activity, which gave positive results. Also, it was observed that sericin offers a protective mechanism against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative stress when studied using the cell viability assay. High potentials of in-vitro cell attachment and proliferation were noted and other properties of sericin like anti-oxidation, anti-microbial ads up to this sericin-PVA fabricated mat which proves to be a promising candidate in the wound dressing field.