Silk fibroin for cosmetic dermatology

Abstract

People are increasingly focusing on skin health and maintenance because of improvements in living standards. Skin damage and defects caused by various factors and skin aging, spots, and pigmentation due to the passage of time and improper maintenance can be improved and restored via the beautification of the skin. A plethora of additives are used in cosmetic dermatology applications including silk fibroin (SF), which is increasingly being used due to its significant role in enhancing skin luster and elasticity, reducing pigmentation, combating skin aging, and promoting scalp care owing to its unique moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Additionally, SF is a low-cost, easy-to-use biomaterial that displays high biocompatibility, controllable biodegradability, and adjustable mechanical properties, which facilitate its application in the field of cosmetic dermatology. SF may offer superior solutions to skin problems. This review describes the compositional structure of SF and introduces its relevant properties in the context of cosmetic dermatology. The sources and cross-linked forms of SF, along with several extraction methods are summarized, and several SF application strategies are listed, including hydrogels, sponges, films, microspheres and microneedles. Additionally, this review describes the biofunctionalization of active molecules on SF and provides a detailed introduction to the role of SF in skin beauty, including skin whitening, firming and lifting, anti-aging, wrinkle reduction, moisturizing, and nourishing. Finally, we summarize the content and forecast future research regarding SF.