SILK FIBROIN NANOPARTICLES AS DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: FABRICATION METHODS, PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, DRUG LOADING MECHANISMS, AND BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS

Background: Silk fibroin (SF)—the structural protein constituting approximately 70–80% of Bombyx mori silk cocoon—has emerged as a leading biomaterial for drug delivery nanoparticle formulation owing to its exceptional biocompatibility, biodegradability, tunable mechanical properties, diverse functional surface chemistry, and FDA-approved status. SF nanoparticles (SF-NPs) can encapsulate hydrophobic and hydrophilic therapeutics, proteins, nucleic acids, and imaging agents, providing controlled and sustained release profiles through both diffusion-mediated and biodegradation-mediated mechanisms. Uzbekistan, as one of the world's largest silk-producing nations, possesses a unique strategic advantage in silk-based biomaterial research and development.