Tufts College

Tufts University

Tuna Yucel

David L Kaplan

Xiaoqin Wang

Gary G Leisk

Tim Jia-Ching Lo

Michael L Lovett

Fiorenzo G Omenetto

Provided herein relates to methods and compositions for preparing a silk microsphere and the resulting silk microsphere. In some embodiments, the methods and compositions described herein are all aqueous, which can be used for encapsulating an active agent in a silk microsphere, while maintaining activity of the active agent during processing. In some embodiments, the resulting silk microsphere can be used for sustained delivery of an active agent encapsulated therein.

Methods and compositions for preparing a silk microsphere

The present invention provided for a novel process of forming silk fibroin gels, and controlling the rate of &#x3b2;-sheet formation and resulting hydrogelation kinetics, by vortex treatment of silk fibroin solution. In addition, the vortex treatment of the present invention provides a silk fibroin gel that may be reversibly shear-thinned, enabling the use of these approach for precise control of silk self-assembly, both spatially and temporally. Active agents, including biological materials, viable cells or therapeutic agents, can be encapsulated in the hydrogels formed from the processes, and be used as delivery vehicles. Hence, the present invention provide for methods for silk fibroin gelation that are useful for biotechnological applications such as encapsulation and delivery of active agents, cells, and bioactive molecules.

Vortex-induced silk fibroin gelation for encapsulation and delivery

The invention relates to methods and compositions for preparing silk-based piezoelectric materials and methods for increasing piezoelectricity in silk matrices.

Silk-based piezoelectric materials

This invention provides for compositions, methods and devices for rapidly converting silk fibroin solution into a silk fibroin gel using direct application of voltage, in a process called electrogelation. The silk fibroin gel may be reversibly converted back to liquid form by applying reverse voltage or may be converted further to &#x3b2;-sheet structure by applying shear force or other treatments. The electrogelated silk may be used as an extracted bulk gel, spray or stream of gel for processing into materials or devices, or may be used as silk gel coating to devices. Active agents may be embedded in the silk gel for various medical applications. This invention also provides for methods and compositions for preparing adhesive silk pH-gels. For example, the method comprises reducing pH level of a silk fibroin solution to increase the bulk or local proton concentration of the silk fibroin solution, thereby forming adhesive silk gels.

pH induced silk gels and uses thereof

The present invention is directed to silk-based drug delivery compositions for controlled, sustained delivery of therapeutic agent(s) as well as methods of making and using the same.

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Medford, MA, United States of America

Tuna Yucel