Biomimetic Silk Fibroin Hydrogels Strengthened by Silica Nanoparticles Distributed Nanofibers Facilitate Bone Repair

Abstract

Various materials are utilized as artificial substitutes for bone repair. In this study, a silk fibroin (SF) hydrogel reinforced by short silica nanoparticles (SiNPs)‐distributed‐silk fibroin nanofibers (SiNPs@NFs), which exhibits a superior osteoinductive property, is fabricated for treating bone defects. SF acts as the base part of the composite scaffold to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is the organic component of a native bone. The distribution of SiNPs clusters within the composite hydrogel partially mimics the distribution of mineral crystals within the ECM. Incorporation of SiNPs@NFs enhances the mechanical properties of the composite hydrogel. In addition, the composite hydrogel provides a biocompatible microenvironment for cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. In vivo studies confirm that the successful repair is achieved with the formation of a large amount of new bone in the large‐sized cranial defects that are treated with the composite hydrogel. In conclusion, the SiNPs@NFs‐reinforced‐hydrogel fabricated in this study has the potential for use in bone tissue engineering.

Multifunctional Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Reinforced Silk Fibroin Composite with Antibacterial and Osteogenic Effects for Infectious Bone Rehabilitation

“…Under ultrasonic oscillation, the pure hollow mesoporous silica (HMS), QAS-modified hollow mesoporous silica (QHMS) and Ag@QHMS were added to the mixed solution at a biocompatibility concentration of 200 μg/mL. 18 , 19 After removing the bubbles, an appropriate amount of crosslinking agent Genipin was added to strengthen the nano-reinforced crosslink for six hours. The mixtures were then added 1mL/well into a 24-well plate under ultrasonic variation, followed by a freeze-drying technique to obtain the composite scaffolds of SF-HMS, SF-QHMS and SF-Ag@QHMS.…”

“… 17 However, many studies combine SF with different nanoparticles; they mainly focus on enhancing the mechanical and osteogenic properties of scaffolds while ignoring their versatility. 18 In our previous study, we successfully synthesized a multifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticle containing nano silver (Ag@QHMS) with antibacterial properties and in vitro osteogenic induction capabilities. 19 , 20 However, due to their small size, nanoparticles cannot maintain enough support in defects.…”

Dual-functional bioactive silk sericin for osteoblast responses and osteomyelitis treatment

“…Multiple forms of silk-based biomaterials, such as film, hydrogel, and sponge, have been developed for potential use in tissue engineering [ 14 – 16 ]. In bone tissue engineering, fibroin-based biomaterial has been investigated for bone repair and cartilage regeneration [ 17 , 18 ], while sericin-based biomaterials, such as sericin-coated titanium and sericin nanofiber, have been reported to promote osseointegration and osteogenic differentiation [ 19 , 20 ]. However, an unmodified form of sericin has been scarcely reported in this field.…”

In Vivo Performance of Microstructured Bacterial Cellulose-Silk Sericin Wound Dressing: Effects on Fibrosis and Scar Formation

“…[17][18][19] However, SS is brittle in nature and lacks mechanical stability, which limits its application as a wound dressing. [20,21] Therefore, BC-SS composite with smooth surface (random BC-SS) was designed as a wound dressing in our previous study to take advantage of both their properties. The composite was shown (in vitro) to improve the proliferation of fibroblasts, and epithelial cells, pointing out potential in improving wound healing.…”