본 연구에서는 인체에 유해한 용매를 사용하지 않고 누에 실샘으로부터 가수분해물을 제조하는 새로운 공정을 개발하였다. 제조된 누에 실샘 가수분해물의 특성 분석을 통해 누에고치 유래 세리신 가수분해물(CSH)과 구성 성분 및 물성이 상이함을 확인하였다. 또한 1 mg/ml 수용성 누에 실샘 가수분해물(SSGH)을 첨가한 경우 10% FBS를 첨가한 대조군과 동등한 세포 증식효과가 있음을 증명하였다. 결론적으로 누에 실샘 가수분해물은 혈청을 대체할 수 있는 우수한 소재임을 확인하였다. 본 연구에서 개발한 제조방법을 통해 생산된 누에 실샘 가수분해물은 향후 화장품 및 의료용 소재로 그 응용범위를 확대할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.
Silk protein has been explored to be used for biomedical applications for several decades. However, it has not been used in this field cause to their irreversible crystallization after dissolving in water. The existing methods of silk protein hydrolysis using silkworm cocoon were used with harmful solvents and through a very complicated process. Therefore, we have developed novel methods for the production of water-soluble hydrolysate using silkworm gland. We manufactured two types of silkworm gland-derived hydrolysate (water-soluble SGH, SSGH; total SGH, TSGH) and compared the characteristics with commercial cocoon-derived sericin hydrolysate (CSH). The molecular weight of SGH ranged from 7 to 50 kDa (SSGH) and 5 to 15 kDa (TSGH) within glycine, alanine, and aspartic acid as a main amino acid composition. In contrast, CSH ranged from 15 to 50 kDa within serine and aspartic acid. The results of FTIR implied that SGH was more soluble form than CSH, as shown by the decrease in the ${eta}$-sheet structure at $1630cm^{-1}$ on amide I peak. In comparison with 10% fetal bovine serum, 0.1% (1 mg/ml) SSGH had equivalent effect on the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells. All results of the SSGH made by novel manufacturing process indicate the SSGH is more preferable as a culture medium supplement than cocoon-derived sericin.
