Protein Matrices for Improved Wound Healing: Elastase Inhibition by a Synthetic Peptide Model

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

Andreia Vasconcelos (Author) Other; Ana Paula Pego (Author) FEUP; Lara Henriques (Author) Other; Meriem Lamghari (Author) FEUP; Artur Cavaco Paulo (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Biomacromolecules

Vol. 11

Pages: 2213-2220

ISSN: 1525-7797

Publisher: American Chemical Society

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 8 Citations

Scopus - 7 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Chemical sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-34N

DOI: 10.1021/bm100537b

Abstract (EN): The unique properties of silk fibroin were combined with keratin to develop new wound-dressing materials. Silk fibroin/keratin (SF/K) films were prepared to reduce high levels of elastase found on chronic wounds. This improved biological function was achieved by the incorporation of a small peptide synthesized based on the reactive-site loop of the Bowman Birk Inhibitor (BBI) protein. In vitro degradation and release were evaluated using porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) solution as a model of wound exudate. It was found that biological degradation and release rate are highly dependent on film composition. Furthermore, the level of PPE activity can be tuned by changing the film composition, thus showing an innovative way of controlling the elastase-antielastase imbalance found on chronic wounds.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8