Characterization and Evaluation of Silk Sericin-Based Hydrogel: A Promising Biomaterial for Efficient Healing of Acute Wounds

[Image: see text] The present study was aimed to prepare the potent silk sericin-based hydrogels in combination with plant extracts (curcumin and banana peel powder) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to accelerate the acute wound healing process. Experimental excision wounds were created in mice by biopsy puncture, and the wound healing potential of silk sericin (2%)-based hydrogel and its combinations with curcumin (2%), banana peel powder (2%), and AgNPs (2%) was estimated by calculating the percent wound contraction, healing time, histology of skin tissues, and different biochemical tests. The results showed that the mice treated with sericin-based hydrogels showed significantly (P < 0.001) high percent wound contraction as compared to negative control, and wounds were healed in 11 days. The histological evaluation also showed that wounds covered with hydrogels were healed more than the uncovered wounds. Furthermore, the results of biochemical tests revealed that the treatment groups showed a significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the serum level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6). A significant (P < 0.001) increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) and anti-oxidant enzymes was observed in treatment groups. The highest wound healing potential was observed by sericin-based hydrogel containing banana peel powder, leaving behind the commercially available ointment polyfax (positive control). It can be concluded that the silk sericin-based hydrogels in combination with plant extract and AgNPs can be used as natural biomaterials in wound dressing for the rapid healing of acute wounds.