GCSP research stipend | Fall 2024

Electrospun Fabrication and Characterization of Sericin Biopolymer Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Regenerations

The versatility, biocompatibility, and physicochemical properties of bioinspired polymers underscores their applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Sericin, a coaxial protein present in natural silk fibers, is postulated to have promising biocompatibility and biodegradability behavior envisioned for applications in drug delivery, cosmetics, and antimicrobial agents. This research effort is aimed at isolating sericin from silk fibers, derived from lab-grown, domestically farmed Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons, for subsequent electrospinning and characterization of sericin nanoscale scaffolds. Cell proliferation and adhesion studies on sericin scaffolds will be used to determine their potential for use in wound healing technologies and regenerative surgical hardware.

Aditi Rao was selected as an Outstanding Student Researcher for her fall 2024 GCSP research stipend project work.