A hydrogel–fiber–hydrogel composite scaffold based on silk fibroin with the dual‐delivery of oxygen and quercetin

Abstract

Supplying sufficient oxygen within the scaffolds is one of the essential hindrances in tissue engineering that can be resolved by oxygen‐generating biomaterials (OGBs). Two main issues related to OGBs are controlling oxygenation and reactive oxygen species (ROS). To address these concerns, we developed a composite scaffold entailing three layers (hydrogel‐electrospun fibers‐hydrogel) with antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The fibers, the middle layer, reinforced the composite structure, enhancing the mechanical strength from 4.27 ± 0.15 to 8.27 ± 0.25 kPa; also, this layer is made of calcium peroxide and silk fibroin (SF) through electrospinning, which enables oxygen delivery. The first and third layers are physical SF hydrogels to control oxygen release, containing quercetin (Q), a nonenzymatic antioxidant. This composite scaffold resulted in almost more than 40 mmHg of oxygen release for at least 13 days, and compared with similar studies is in a high range. Here, Q was used for the first time for an OGB to scavenge the possible ROS. Q delivery not only led to antioxidant activity but also stabilized oxygen release and enhanced cell viability. Based on the given results, this composite scaffold can be introduced as a safe and controllable oxygen supplier, which is promising for tissue engineering applications, particularly for bone.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of quercetin: A focus on its sirtuin‐mediated benefits

“…These lipid‐based carriers enhance quercetin's solubility, enabling efficient delivery to target tissues. Furthermore, recent progress includes the incorporation of quercetin into biocompatible hydrogels and scaffolds (Aleemardani et al, 2023; Al‐Musawi et al, 2023) for localized delivery in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. These systems provide a controlled and sustained release of quercetin, promoting tissue repair and regeneration.…”

Oxygen‐Releasing Hydrogels for Tissue Regeneration

“…[87] These hydrogels serve as a biocompatible scaffold that enhances the repair efficacy of myocardial infarction. [211] When Figure 9. A) Schematic diagram illustrating the synthesis process of nanozyme-reinforced self-protecting hydrogel and its application for enhancing prosthetic interface osseointegration in the rheumatoid arthritis therapy and physical images of femoral joints at 6 and 12 weeks after treatment with different scaffolds.…”

“…[ 87 ] These hydrogels serve as a biocompatible scaffold that enhances the repair efficacy of myocardial infarction. [ 211 ] When administered directly into the damaged heart muscle, they supply additional oxygen, alleviating hypoxia and promoting angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. [ 212 ] Composed of biodegradable polymers and oxygen‐releasing agents, the hydrogels augment oxygen delivery to ischemic regions.…”

Study on the Structure and Properties of Silk Fibers Obtained from Factory All-Age Artificial Diets

“…Since sericin could cause inflammatory reactions in the body, silk fibroin and silk sericin are usually separated [ 8 ]. Degummed silk fibers have received increasing attention as a biomaterial, especially in wound-healing materials [ 9 , 10 ] and bone tissue engineering [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”