Electrospinning Device: Photocrosslinked silk fibroin microgel scaffolds for biomedical applications

Background

Engineered polymer hydrogels have shown broad application potential in multiple fields due to their unique physicochemical properties and biocompatibility, especially in the field of medical devices. Hydrogels can mimic the extracellular matrix environment and serve as carriers for cell transplantation, promoting cell survival, proliferation, differentiation and migration, and promoting tissue regeneration.

Limitations of traditional hydrogels

Despite advances in hydrogel technology, the porosity problem of traditional hydrogels still limits their application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Traditional hydrogels have small pores, which restrict the entry of cells and blood vessels, which is important for tissue integration and regeneration.

Advantages of silk fibroin biomaterials

Silk fibroin biomaterials are widely used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to their excellent properties. Covalent dityrosine crosslinking is popular as an alternative method, which can be induced by enzymatic, Fenton and photoinitiated reactions. Photoinitiated crosslinking can form hydrogels quickly and controllably, is compatible with biomanufacturing methods, and supports high-density cell encapsulation and biofunctionalization.

Development of microporous silk microgel scaffolds

The team of Fatemeh Karimi, a researcher at the University of New South Wales, developed microporous silk microgel scaffolds using visible light-induced dityrosine cross-linking reactions. This manufacturing method has unique advantages and can prepare microgel scaffolds of different sizes. The performance is compared with traditional silk hydrogels in terms of morphology, mechanical properties, processing, cell encapsulation, and in vivo tissue interaction.

Application of electrospinning technology

Electrospinning technology can prepare flexible ultrathin porous fiber membranes that can reflect and consume electromagnetic waves multiple times for electromagnetic interference shielding. Combined with MXene materials, multifunctional polymer-based MXene-enhanced electromagnetic shielding composites can be prepared by electrospinning technology.

Application of microgel systems in cell growth and infiltration

Microgels have great advantages as a new generation of cell and drug carriers. They can effectively overcome the penetration depth limitations of traditional block hydrogels and promote cell infiltration and growth.

Conclusion

Engineering polymer hydrogels and silk protein biomaterials show great application potential in the medical field. The development of microporous silk microgel scaffolds provides new solutions for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The application of electrospinning technology has expanded the scope of use of hydrogels, especially in the fields of electromagnetic shielding. The development of microgel systems has provided new pathways for cell growth and infiltration, promoting the progress of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Electrospinning Nanofibers Article Source:

https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202313354