SERICIN-CONTAINING MATERIAL, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

摘要

The physiologically active functions of components constituting undecomposed sericin are clarified to thereby provide novel medical materials, cosmetic materials, etc. with the use of these functional components. A cell growth promoter mainly comprising sericin having a molecular weight determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of about 400,000 which is eluted from fibers spun by domesticated silkworms (cocoon filaments, etc.). This cell growth promoter (substance) is highly useful since it can promote cell growth when used in medical materials (wound coatings, vascular endothelium forming materials, organ forming materials), bioengineering materials (cell culture beds) and cosmetic materials (skin care products).