SF/SS Nano-Immune Activator Composition for Low-Inflammation Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The application of silk sericin (SS) as a biomedical material is limited due to its inflammatory induction and low immunogenicity, and there is a lack of a nano-immune activator using an SF/SS blending complex with suitable particle size and good biocompatibility for immune activation.
Innovation Solution
A method is developed to prepare a nano-immune activator by mixing silk fibroin (SF) and SS at specific ratios, dissolving in water, injecting into an acetone solution, ultrasonically treating, centrifuging, washing with trehalose, and freeze-drying to form an SF/SS blending complex.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If silk sericin (SS) is used as a biomedical material, then it provides rich biological activities including adhesion, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties, but it induces inflammatory response and immunogenicity that limit its application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite nano-immune activator by blending silk fibroin (SF) and silk sericin (SS) in specific ratios. The SF component provides structural stability and low immunogenicity, while the SS component contributes rich biological activities. This composite structure allows the material to maintain versatile biological functions while reducing the harmful inflammatory and immunogenic responses through the modulating effect of SF
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies the mass ratio of SF to SS (testing ratios of 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, and 5:5) to optimize the balance between biological activity and immunogenicity. By changing this critical parameter, the research identifies that lower SS content reduces inflammatory response while maintaining sufficient biological activity, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and harmful effects
2Object-affected harmful factors
If silk sericin (SS) is removed during SF processing for medical biomaterials, then the inflammatory and immunogenic risks are reduced, but the SS becomes waste that is discarded
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of discarding SS as waste or removing it to reduce immunogenicity, the patent converts the previously harmful SS into a beneficial component of the nano-immune activator. By carefully controlling the SS content and blending it with SF, the material's immunogenic properties are transformed into immunomodulatory functions that activate antigen-presenting cells and enhance immune response, thus converting what was once a harmful factor into a therapeutic benefit
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes SS multi-functional by using it both as a structural component of the nano-carrier and as an active immunomodulator. The SS provides adhesion properties for cell interaction, antioxidant protection, and immune activation, while SF provides structural integrity. This multi-functionality eliminates waste by maximizing the utility of SS in the final product
3Reliability
If pure SS is used in biomedical applications, then it provides complete structural purity and bio-safety, but it still shows immunogenicity that stimulates immune response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite system where pure SS is blended with pure SF in controlled ratios. The SF component acts as an immunomodulating agent that reduces the overall immunogenicity of the mixture while maintaining the bio-safety and structural purity of both components. This composite approach allows the material to maintain reliability through purity while reducing harmful immunogenic effects through the balancing effect of SF
4Manufacturing precision
If SF/SS blending complex is created with optimized ratio, then uniform particle size and good biocompatibility are achieved, but multiple processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-mixing SF and SS in optimized mass ratios before the nano-precipitation process. The components are pre-dissolved in appropriate solvents with controlled pH and ionic strength, and the mixing ratios are predetermined based on optimization studies. This preliminary preparation ensures that during the actual nano-precipitation, uniform particles form directly without requiring extensive post-processing adjustment, thus achieving manufacturing precision while managing process complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The SF/SS blending complex exhibits uniform particle size, good biocompatibility, and immune activation performance, inducing mucosal immune responses through lymphatic targeted delivery for treating tumors and microbial infections.
Implementation Method 1
injecting the water phase obtained in the step 2 into an acetone solution as an organic phase to obtain a mixed system
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the mixed system obtained in the step 3 to ultrasonic treatment
Implementation Method 3
subjecting the mixed system obtained in the step 4 to centrifugal treatment, and discarding the supernatant
Implementation Method 4
freeze-drying the mixed solution obtained in the step 9
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method for preparing a nano-immune activator, and an article and use thereof. The method includes the following steps: acquiring SF and SS; mixing the SF and the SS according to a set mass ratio, and dissolving in double-distilled water to obtain a water phase; injecting the water phase into an acetone solution as an organic phase to obtain a mixed system; subjecting the mixed system to ultrasonic treatment, and stirring until acetone is completely volatilized; conducting centrifugal treatment, and discarding the supernatant; re-adding double-distilled water into a precipitate, carrying out centrifugal treatment, and collecting the supernatant, and repeating the process for many times; subjecting the obtained supernatant to centrifugal treatment; re-adding double-distilled water into the obtained precipitate, and washing for many times to obtain an SF/SS blending complex; dispersing the SF/SS blending complex in a double-distilled water solution containing trehalose; and freeze-drying the mixed solution.