Nanostructures and biomaterials based on silk polymer for medical diagnostic and therapeutic applications

Today, SF is a natural polymer with unique features, such as excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity, which characterize this material with diverse forms for different purposes. Silk nanoparticles, scaffolds, films, and mats are used in various therapeutic and diagnostic strategies including drug/gene delivery, tissue engineering, biomolecule detection, and wound healing. Therefore, a study that examines all SF applications and evaluates its toxicity helps researchers in future projects. In this study, we comprehensively searched all sources of databases in different years about the medical application of various types of SF. Also, we reviewed the toxicity of SF. Several newer papers were selected for reporting and conclusions. In conclusion, the evaluation of the literature revealed that SF is a promising candidate for a wide range of biomedical applications. [GRAPHICS]