Sericin Hydrogels Promote Skin Wound Healing with Effective Regeneration of Hair Follicles and Sebaceous Glands After Complete Loss of Epidermis and Dermis

In the 2018 study, researchers developed a photo-crosslinkable sericin hydrogel (SMH) for repairing full-thickness skin injuries and compared its healing effects to PELNAC (a commercial collagen-based artificial dermal) and Tegaderm (an adhesive tape). The study, which involved eight mice per group, found that SMH-treated wounds healed significantly faster, with a 98% healing rate after 21 days, compared to 83% for PELNAC and 48% for Tegaderm. SMH also resulted in less scarring, with a scar thickness of 7.1 µm, and effectively regenerated hair follicles and sebaceous glands, indicating scarless and effective histological regeneration of skin. The hydrogel promoted angiogenesis, upregulated VEGF and EGF gene expression, and blocked bacterial invasion, potentially suppressing inflammation. SMH regulated TGF-B1 and TGF-B3 expression, which is associated with reduced scarring, and recruited mesenchymal stem cells to the injury site, essential for skin regeneration. The study concluded that SMH is a highly effective dressing for functional and morphological skin regeneration, with potential applications for various skin diseases or injuries.