Enhancing the Versatility of Photocrosslinkable Silk Fibroin Using an Eco‐Friendly Solvent

Silk fibroin (SF), known for its biocompatibility and versatility, has been widely studied in tissue engineering and biomedical devices. The modification of SF with photoreactive groups has been used to create novel biomaterials that undergo a liquid‐to‐solid transition upon exposure to light, enabling precise control over structure formation, pore geometry, and degradation. This advancement of PF has been shown for the biofabrication of hydrogels, 3D scaffolds, and micro‐patterned surfaces suitable for biomedical applications, including tissue scaffolds and bioelectronics. Herein, further improvement using a water‐based ternary solvent of calcium chloride‐ethanol‐water (Ajisawa reagent (AR)) is presented, to dissolve PF, offering a sustainable alternative to previously used organic solvents. PF in AR is shown to be compatible with various light‐based manufacturing techniques including soft lithography, photolithography, and 3D printing, enabling the fabrication of multiscale structures with high fidelity. The gels formed demonstrate excellent cytocompatibility, supporting cell adhesion and growth without additional coatings, making them ideal for regenerative medicine. The integration of conductive polymers, such as PEDOT:PSS as a 3D printable conducting gel opens possibilities for bioelectronics. The research represents a significant step forward in employing the versatile PF as a sustainable, high‐performance photoresin biomaterial for diverse applications.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Engineering Materials
Published
2025-02-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adem.202402401
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Silk-based biomaterials and applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.79
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article

Enhancing the Versatility of Photocrosslinkable Silk Fibroin Using an Eco‐Friendly Solvent

Anne Katherine Brooks, Vamsi K. Yadavalli
3 citations
Advanced Engineering Materials
Silk-based biomaterials and applications
1.79
article

Enhancing the Versatility of Photocrosslinkable Silk Fibroin Using an Eco‐Friendly Solvent

Anne Katherine Brooks, Vamsi K. Yadavalli
article en
3 citations

Abstract

Silk fibroin (SF), known for its biocompatibility and versatility, has been widely studied in tissue engineering and biomedical devices. The modification of SF with photoreactive groups has been used to create novel biomaterials that undergo a liquid‐to‐solid transition upon exposure to light, enabling precise control over structure formation, pore geometry, and degradation. This advancement of PF has been shown for the biofabrication of hydrogels, 3D scaffolds, and micro‐patterned surfaces suitable for biomedical applications, including tissue scaffolds and bioelectronics. Herein, further improvement using a water‐based ternary solvent of calcium chloride‐ethanol‐water (Ajisawa reagent (AR)) is presented, to dissolve PF, offering a sustainable alternative to previously used organic solvents. PF in AR is shown to be compatible with various light‐based manufacturing techniques including soft lithography, photolithography, and 3D printing, enabling the fabrication of multiscale structures with high fidelity. The gels formed demonstrate excellent cytocompatibility, supporting cell adhesion and growth without additional coatings, making them ideal for regenerative medicine. The integration of conductive polymers, such as PEDOT:PSS as a 3D printable conducting gel opens possibilities for bioelectronics. The research represents a significant step forward in employing the versatile PF as a sustainable, high‐performance photoresin biomaterial for diverse applications.

Advanced Engineering MaterialsVol. 27(7)
Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
Responsible consumption and production
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
Silk-based biomaterials and applications
1.79
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