Stable silk fibroin nanoparticles from sericulture waste for biomedical and drug delivery applications

A controlled desolvation method was developed to synthesize silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNPs) from Colombian sericulture waste, offering a sustainable approach to valorize silk residues for biomedical use. Fibroin extracted from Bombyx mori waste was processed via controlled desolvation to yield nanoparticles smaller than 200 nm. The effects of autoclave sterilization and long-term storage were evaluated over 180 days using FESEM, DLS, ζ- potential, FTIR, and TGA analyses. The SFNPs retained their spherical morphology, β-sheet structure, negative surface charge, and thermal stability throughout the study, demonstrating exceptional colloidal and structural integrity even after sterilization at 121 °C. Cytocompatibility testing showed that the SFNP did not adversely affect intestinal colorectal Caco-2 cell viability under the tested conditions. These findings confirm that sericulture waste can serve as a reliable source of biomedical-grade fibroin, enabling the production of sterilization-resistant nanocarriers suitable for drug delivery and other biomedical applications.