Processes for fabricating 3-D porous biomaterials from regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) have been developed by India’s NCL Innovations, part of the National Chemical Laboratory. Notably, NCL scientists have been able to accelerate RSF gelation time to produce a porous structure. The process, which typically takes several days, now can be completed in a few hours. The organisation has also been able to create 3-D porous structures by electrospinning RSF from an aqueous solution. Medical applications include tissue engineering, wound care and drug delivery. NCL Innovations is seeking licensing partners for the technologies.

The reduction in RSF gelation time has widened the spectrum of applications for the materials, according to NCL Innovations. The process is less costly and faster than conventional techniques, because an aqueous solution is used in lieu of organic solvents. The resulting implants are reproduced with increased consistency, adds the organisation, and the technology enables pore sizes in the 1 to 10 µm range.

In addition to the production of bioabsorbable scaffolds for tissue engineering, the biomaterials can be used to manufacture controlled drug-delivery devices and bandages that provide a moist environment to promote wound healing.

NCL Innovations notes that the market for biomaterials such as RSF is projected to grow from US$37.6 billion in 2011 to US$64.7 billion by 2015, and that the global market for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine is expected to exceed US$118 billion by 2013, primarily in the wound care and orthopaedics sectors.