Cross linked hyaluronic acid-silk and uses thereof

Abstract

The present specification provides for methods for purifying fibroins, purified fibroins, methods of conjugating biological and synthetic molecules to fibroins, fibroins conjugated to such molecules, methods of making fibroin hydrogels, fibroin hydrogels and fibroin hydrogel formulations useful for a variety of medical uses, including, without limitation uses as bulking agents, tissue space fillers, templates for tissue reconstruction or regeneration, cell culture scaffolds for tissue engineering and for disease models, surface coating to improve medical device function, or drug delivery devices.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A formulation comprising silk conjugated to hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1  wherein the silk is silk fibroin or the silk is a silk molecule. 
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 2  wherein the hyaluronic acid is covalently attached to the silk. 
     
     
         4 . The formulation of  claim 3  wherein the formulation further comprises an amino acid spacer which covalently attaches the hyaluronic acid to the silk. 
     
     
         5 . The formulation of  claim 4  wherein the amino acid spacer is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, and SEQ ID NO: 25.