| The raw silk fiber actually consists of two filaments called fibroin bound by a soluble silk gum called sericin. |
| However, further research fails to prove clearly the contribution of sericin to inflammatory responses based on isolated sericin and sericin based biomaterials. |
| Thus, the removal of sericin is an essential step to assure biocompatibility in biomaterial applications of silk. |
| Raw silk fibres are naturally coated with a gummy substance called sericin. |
| Harvested cocoons are then soaked in boiling water to soften the sericin holding the silk fibers together in a cocoon shape. |
