3D-Printed Scaffolds of Silk Protein for Tissue Engineering

吳欣妮Hsin-Ni Wu1, and 李明家Ming-Chia Li1*

1Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 

Silk fibroin, a has high tensile strength and good biocompatibility and is a promising medical material. However, its poor mechanical properties, including low elasticity and viscosity, make it difficult to use in 3D printing, which requires strong and flexible materials.

In this study, a photocrosslinkable SF-GMA was synthesized from silk fibroin and glycidyl methacrylate (GMA); however, its low elongation limited its use in some applications, so adding gelatin (Gel) with good flexibility and elasticity can improve the mechanical strength of the final product. Pluronic F127 (F127) was used as a sacrificial material to make a 3D printing template of the gyroid structure, and then the SF-GMA-Gel hydrogel was filled into the 3D printed helix structure to fabricate a double continuous double helix structure. The mechanical properties of SF-GMA can be further enhanced by ultraviolet light irradiation. Furthermore, after washing the sacrificial material, the helical structure provides a network of interconnected pores and channels that promote cell growth and proliferation.

Despite the encouraging results of this study, further studies are needed to understand the potential of SF-GMA and antihelical structures for tissue engineering applications. More studies are needed to evaluate the biocompatibility, degradability, and long-term performance of these materials in vivo