Electrospinning Device: Remarkable silk hydrogels with high adaptability, bioactivity and multifunctionality achieved through photocrosslinking

Background

In an article published in ACS Nano, Zhang Qiang's team from Wuhan Textile University mentioned that they were inspired by photosynthesis and achieved a harmonious combination of superior mechanical properties and efficient preparation of silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels through photocrosslinking technology. This photocrosslinking technology can be combined with electrospinning technology to prepare silk fibroin-based nanofiber scaffolds with excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility for biomedical applications such as bone tissue engineering.

Preparation of silk fibroin nanofibers

Electrospinning technology can be used to prepare silk fibroin nanofibers, which have low viscosity and are easy to infuse into the pores of porous scaffolds and channels of tubular materials to achieve nanofibrillation within the scaffold. This method can improve the mechanical properties and bioactivity of silk fibroin-based scaffolds, making them more suitable for bone tissue engineering applications.

Rapid preparation of silk fibroin hydrogels

The photocrosslinking technology developed by Zhang Qiang's team can complete the preparation of silk fibroin hydrogels within 60 seconds. This rapid preparation method can be combined with electrospinning technology to quickly prepare silk fibroin-based scaffolds with specific structures and functions.

Mechanical properties and biocompatibility of silk fibroin hydrogel

The photocrosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel showed good elasticity and recoverability even after 1000 cycles of compression, and had high biocompatibility, supporting the growth and maintenance of stem cells.These properties make silk fibroin hydrogel suitable as a substrate for electrospinning scaffolds to improve the biocompatibility of the scaffolds and promote cell growth.

Application potential of silk fibroin hydrogel

Due to its superior machinability and versatility, photocrosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel can be easily processed into forms such as bone nails and microneedles, showing great application potential in medical microdevices and devices. These applications can be further expanded by electrospinning technology to prepare silk fibroin-based scaffolds with specific shapes and structures.

Summary

In summary, the combination of photocrosslinking technology and electrospinning technology provides new possibilities for the application of silk fibroin-based hydrogels in fields such as bone tissue engineering. Through this combination, silk fibroin-based scaffolds with excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility and versatility can be prepared, providing new solutions for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Electrospinning Nanofibers Article Source:

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsnano.4c05017