Abstract
To study the application of Bombyx mori fibroin to wound care, the effect of fibroin on human skin fibroblasts was examined. The fibroin obtained from silk glands enhanced the proliferation of cultured fibroblast cells by up to 150% of the no fibroin control. Native molecular fibroin prepared from cocoons elicited an enhancement comparable to the above, whereas a degraded fibroin preparation from degummed silk was inactive. Alkali treatment of cocoons caused degradation of fibroin with a decrease in the biological activity. Furthermore, fibroin from cocoons that underwent prolonged alkali treatment exhibited an inhibitory action on fibroblast growth.
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