• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.236-241
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• 2008

The antioxidant potential of silk protein sericin from the non-mulberry tropical tasar silkworm Antheraea mylitta cocoon has been assessed and compared with that of the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori. Skin fibroblast cell line (AH927) challenged with hydrogen peroxide served as the positive control for the experiment. Our results showed that the sericin obtained from tasar cocoons offers protection against oxidative stress and cell viability is restored to that of control on pre-incubation with the sericin. Fibroblasts pre-incubated with non-mulberry sericin had significantly lower levels of catalase; lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde activity when compared to untreated ones. This report indicates that the silk protein sericin from the non-mulberry tropical tasar silkworm, A. mylitta can serve as a valuable antioxidant.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2021

Toll-like receptor (TLR) is responsible for the recognition of foreign protein. Accordingly, TLR is mainly expressed in the immune associated cells. When foreign protein such as silk sericin is considered for the graft, the response of TLR should be considered. TLR is not all or none responsive receptor. TLR can be activated differently by the intensity of the input. Silk sericin is easily fragmented. The protein conformation of silk sericin is different to the degumming method. TLR response to silk sericin may be different to the degumming method. Consequently, objective tailored extraction method should be investigated and developed.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 2010

Sericin pulverization process was applied by freezing-thawing of sericin protein concentration solution and physicochemical properties of sericin/chitosan blended films were investigated. In sericin pulverization process by freezing-thawing method, the refrigeration storage at $4^{\circ}C$ maximized gelling between sericin molecules, which increased 10% of recovery ratio from sericin concentration solution that using ultrafiltration procedure. In physicochemical properties of sericin/chitosan blended films, the maximum load of chitosan (6.7kgf) had higher than that of sericin (1.2kgf), and the elongation of sericin and chitosan had 96% and 34%, respectively. Also FT-IR analysis of sericin/chitosan blended films showed that both sericin and chitosan films had amide I peak (N-H bond) in $1,521cm^{-1}$ and amide II peak (C=O bond) in $1,630cm^{-1}$. In addition, it could confirm compatibility between both materials as indicated by the decrease in the amide I peak's absorption value as chitosan content increases.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2022

There are several subspecies of Bombyx mori, whose silk sericin variants differ. Silk sericin can induce bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP-2) in macrophages, and silk sericin from different species may have different levels of BMP-2 induction ability. In this study, silk sericin from three B. mori subspecies (Baegokjam, Yeonnokjam, and Goldensilk) was prepared. They were administered to RAW264.7 cells and BMP-2 expression level was studied. Bone regeneration was evaluated using a rat calvarial defect model. BMP-2 expression level was the highest in the Baegokjam group. The bone volume in the Baegokjam group was significantly higher than that in the Yeonnokjam group (P = 0.003). In conclusion, sericin from Baegokjam showed higher levels of BMP-2 expression and bone regeneration than those from Yeonnokjam and Goldensilk.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.20
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• pp.55-63
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• 2002

This experiment was to know properties of Sericin Jam that development, growth of silkgland, content of sericin and composition of amino acid in hemolymph. The characters of Sericin Jam can he seen form this experiment. Hatching ratio was 85% in Sericin Jam and 95% in Jam 120. Especially hatching period of Sericin Jam was longer than Jam 120 and also hatching of Sericin Jam was ununiform. The larval duration of Sericin Jam was 20 days and 23 hours, and Jaw 120 was 21 days and 22 hours. In Sericin Jam, middle silkgland contain a great p arts in silkgalod and posterior silkgand is short and no curves. The period of mounting to emergence was 12 days in Sericin Jam. The period of pupa was 7day. It is property of Sericin Jam that the period is short. Cocoon was very thin and light in Sericin Jam. Weight of cocoon shell of Sericin Jam is 2.7cg. The sericin protein quantity was 100% in cocoon shell of Sericin Jam, about 28% in cocoon shell of Jam 120, however the sericin ratio per Sericin Jam cocoon was 34.6% compare to cocoon shell of Jaw 120 in sericin protein quantity. The amino acids in hemolymph of Sericin Jaw was much hidtidine, lysine, glut amic acid. And the amount of almost amino acids were increased depends upon development at t he 5th instar.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2002

Natural silk is formed by two proteins : the crystalline fibroin (inside the silk thread) and amorphous sericin (as a tube outside the thread). The degumming process is used to eliminate the external sericin prior to dyeing ; generally it makes use of soaps at about pH 10. Sericin is the protein constituent that "gums"together the fibroin filaments of cocoon silk. It constitutes about 25% of the weight of the cocoon, is soluble in hot water and "gels" on cooling. The removal of sericin from raw silk, known as degumming, is a simple but important process usually employing hot dilute soap or alkaline solution and occasionally dilute acids or enzymic methods. During degumming, alkali is taken up by the sericin and the free acid from the soap is formed ; this may be deposited on the fiber, reducing the rate of degumming and protecting it from hydrolysis. Alkali is often added to maintain or restore the pH of the baths, but it is rarely used alone, since it leaves the silk rather harsh in handle. If complete sericin removal is required as for printing, sodium carbonate may be added. If the pH of the bath exceeds 11, the fibroin is attacked. Recently, According to the development of electrolysis, we can be obtained the electrolytic reduction water(above pH 11.5) and electrolytic oxidation water (below pH 3). The aim of this work was to study a degumming process using electrolytic water and a possibility of sericin recovery. The new degumming process used electrolytic water operates at $95^\circ{C}$ for 2hr. without any reagents. The wastewater of this process are formed by a solution of sericin in water. This conditions suggest the study of a possible recovery of this protein (sericin) which has an amino acid composition suitable for many used in cosmetics, textile finishing agents, animal feeding, etc. The degumming process using electrolytic water is available to reduce treatment costs and pollute and at the same time to recover sericin.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2009

First of all, the properties imparted to PET fabrics are resistance to and recovery from creasing or wrinkling when wet or dry; high resistance to stretch in the filament yarns but not in the staple; high abrasion resistance; good texture and appearance; resistance to heat ageing; good chemical resistance and good resistance, behind glass, to sunlight. But, the low moisture regain of PET fabric conduces to static troubles in textile processing. Furthermore, garments made from PET may, during wear, develop electric charges which attract to the fabric particles of soil(dirt, swarf, dust) flying in the air, so that the cuffs of shirts, for example, become soiled quickly and are not easily laundered clean. The sericin constitutes 25$\sim$30％ of silk protein and surrounds the fibroin fiber with sticky layer that supports the formation of a cocoon. The useful biochemical properties of sericin protein are oxidation resistant, antibacterial, UV resistant, hydrophilic property, and good affinity with hydrophobic material. These properties can be used as an improving reagent or a coating agent for natural and synthetic fibers, fabrics, and other intermediate products. The sericin is also applied to cross-link, and can be blended with other materials. In this study, we modified the surface of PET fabric by mixture of sericin finishing agent; sericin, polyuretane binder and 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA) cross-link agent. Also, we investigated the finshing effect; moisture regain, stiffness, handle, drape and electrostatic. The moisture regain of PET fabric treated with sericin finishing agent was higher than that of untreated PET fabric. As a result of evaluating influence about handle of PET fabrics treated with sericin finishing agent, it was confirmed that the sericin finishing agent could be use as a linen like finishing agent.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Silk sericin, a natural protein from silkworm cocoons, is emerging as a multifunctional biomaterial in biomedicine, particularly in tissue engineering and wound healing. Recent studies have highlighted its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and potential for chemical modification, which allows it to be incorporated into various scaffold architectures. This review article synthesizes current research, including the development of sericin-based hydrogel scaffolds for tissue engineering and sericin's role in enhancing wound healing. Key findings demonstrate sericin's ability to refine scaffold porosity and mechanical strength, expedite tissue healing, and reduce bacterial load in wounds. The integration of sericin into novel bioactive dressings and its use in peripheral nerve injury repair are also discussed, showcasing its adaptability and efficacy. The convergence of these studies illustrates the broad applications of sericin, from scaffold design to clinical interventions, making it a promising material in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, with the potential to improve patient outcomes significantly.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.115-122
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• 2011

The effect of dietary feeding of silk fibroin/sericinmixtureson the antioxidative status and glucose metabolism in high fat-fed mice was investigated. The mice weregiven experimental diets for 6 weeks: normal control (NC),high fat (HF) andhigh fat supplemented with F100 (pure fibroin, HF-F100), F81 (81:19 fibroin-sericin, w/w, HF-F81) or F50 (50:50 fibroin-sericin, w/w, HF-F50). The silk protein-fed mice showed decreased lipid peroxidation, enhancedantioxidant enzymesactivities and lower blood glucose level relative to HF group. The HF-F50 animals exhibited significantly lower insulin level, higher glycogen concentration, enhanced hepatic glucokinaseactivity and reduced glucose-6-phosphate and phosphoenolpyruvatecarboxynaseactivities than the HF ones. The $in$ $vivo$ antioxidant activity and hypoglycemic action tended to increase with increased amount of sericin and decreased fibroin content in the diet. These findings demonstrate that silk protein, particularly sericin, may be beneficial in suppressing high fat diet-induced hyperglycemiaand oxidative stress.

• Proceedings of the SCSK Conference
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• 2003.09a
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• pp.501-519
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• 2003

Silk Sericin(SS) is a natural protein extracted from cocoon of bombix mori and shows moisturizing effect to the skin due to a number of hydroxyl groups in the structure. But its application to cosmetics is limited due to its poor solubility in water. In order to solve this drawback and expand its application to cosmetics, polyethyleneglycol(PEG) was conjugated with sericin by reacting activated polyethyleneglycol(ActPEG). Reaction site of sericin is tyrosine residue, which was determined by using $^1$H-NMR. Random coil structure of sericin was transformed to beta-sheet structure by conjugating polyethyleneglycol. It was confirmed that melting point of sericin-PEG conjugate was lowered compared to that of each sericin and PEG due to the interaction between sericin and PEG in crystalline structure. Self-assembled sericin-PEG nanoparticle was obtained by dialyzing with alcohol solution of sericin-PEG conjugate against water. The particle is spherical and has 200-400nm of size. The moisturizing ability of sericin-PEG nanoparticle was much higher than that of sericin itself. Incorporation of vitamin A into sericin-PEG nanoparticle was carried out by diafiltration method. The content of incorporated Vitamin A in sericin-PEG nanoparticle was 8.9 wt％. Releasing behaviour of vitamin A incorporated into nanoparticle was tested in phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 at 37$^{\circ}C$. and half-life of Vitamin A release was 43hrs. Sericin-PEG nanoparticle exhibited higher moisturing effect than sericin itself and distilled water, respectively. No toxicity and irritation were observed in animal tests. It can be expected that the self-assembled sericin-PEG nanoparticle can be developed for cosmetics.