Silk Fibroin-Derived Smart Living Hydrogels for Regenerative Medicine and Organoid Engineering in Wound Care
Summary: This review highlights silk fibroin (SF)-derived smart hydrogels as versatile platforms for regenerative wound care, leveraging SF’s biocompatibility, tunable mechanics, and conductivity for organoid engineering and DFU repair. SF hydrogels support 3D cell culture, mimicking ECM with stiffness gradients (0.1-10 kPa) to guide fibroblast/keratinocyte migration, and electrical cues for 40% faster angiogenesis in diabetic models. Applications include injectable scaffolds for ulcer filling and wearable sensors for monitoring, offering scarless outcomes and reduced infection via antimicrobial loading.
Key Highlights:
- SF Properties: Beta-sheet structure for stability; tunable via sonication/ions for hydrogels.
- Wound Applications: Conductive SF for electrical stimulation (30% faster closure in DFUs).
- Organoids: Supports vascularized models for testing ulcer therapies.
- Evidence: 50% granulation boost in preclinical; no immunogenicity.
- Future: Hybrid with exosomes for personalized DFU scaffolds.
Keywords: silk fibroin, smart hydrogels, regenerative medicine, DFU repair, organoid engineering, Wang Y, Li X, Zhang J