Antimicrobial chitosan-silk fibroin scaffolds with green-synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles

In recent years, soft tissue injuries caused by trauma or pathological diseases have represented a major problem regarding patient treatment and recovery. Traditional wound dressings often lack the necessary biological activity or maintain a moist environment, therefore reducing their efficiency. To solve this problem, this study focused on the development of multifunctional silk fibroin-chitosan composite scaffolds that contain green-synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) for wound healing applications. Zinc oxide, copper oxide, and magnesium oxide NPs were synthesized using orange peel extract as a reducing and capping agent in their green synthesis process. The scaffolds were created with different CS/SF ratios (1:1 and 2:1) and NP concentrations (0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.15% w/w). For the characterization of the biomaterials, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were performed to evaluate the morphological and chemical features of the obtained scaffolds. Furthermore, swelling behavior and antibacterial activity have also been evaluated to determine if the obtained scaffolds could act as ideal materials for wound healing applications. The results showed that NP addition increased the swelling capability and the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 44 (MRSA) of the biomaterials. Moreover, the 1:1 CS/SF scaffolds displayed higher water absorption and antibacterial capacities than those with a 2:1 ratio. Therefore, our research demonstrated that the created SF/CS scaffolds that contained green-synthesized NP provide a promising dressing for wound healing by offering increased biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antibacterial activity. • Innovative scaffold design enhances biomaterial performance for tissue engineering. • New synthesis method improves mechanical properties and biocompatibility. • Enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation observed in experimental validation. • Potential applications in regenerative medicine and implant technology. • Optimized material composition ensures structural stability and biofunctionality.