Silk fibroin-based nanotherapeutics: application in the treatment of colonic diseases.

The incidence of colonic diseases (e.g., inflammatory bowel diseases and colon cancer) is rapidly rising. Nanotherapeutic has been considered as a promising strategy in the treatment of colonic diseases. Silk fibroin (SF) has been widely used as a drug-carrier matrix. Interestingly, SF-based nanoparticles (SFNPs) have intrinsic anti-inflammatory activity, wound healing capacity and lysosomal environment-responsive drug-release property. With further investigations, the sequences of SF molecules could be precisely modified through chemical reactions or transgenic techniques to greatly improve the properties of SFNPs. Here, we review recent advances in the application of SFNPs toward the treatment of colonic diseases. We also discuss future developments that might improve the anti-inflammatory and anti-colon cancer activities of SF-based nanotherapeutics.