Evaluating the impact of bioinspired counterion inclusion on silk nanoparticle physicochemical attributes and physical stability.

ABSTRACT: Silk fibroin is a promising material for nanocarrier-based drug delivery applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical properties, which can be fine-tuned through processing conditions. In this study, we explore the impact of Ca²⁺ and K⁺ inclusion on the morphology of silk nanoparticles and evaluate the short- and long-term stability of silk nanoparticles formed by antisolvent precipitation in deionized water and sodium phosphate buffer. Using advanced electric asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation multiplexed with online detectors (EAF4-UV-MALS-DLS) and orthogonal analytics (DLS, ELS, NTA, FE-SEM), we analyze the physicochemical attributes of silk nanoparticles. We find significant differences in nanoparticle architecture and stability

SUBMITTER: Roamcharern N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12302029 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature