Transparent SilMA Hydrogel: Priming Microstructure Regulation for Real‐Time Cell and Organoid Visualization
Methacryloylated silk fibroin (SilMA) hydrogels (SFH) are extensively utilized in biomedical fields; however, the inherent opacity restricts their further translational use in regenerative medicine, particularly during the real-time visualization of cellular behavior. Herein, we report a highly transparent silk fibroin hydrogel (TSFH) fabricated via a bioinspired glutaraldehyde (GA)-mediated crosslinking strategy that suppresses the conformational transition from random coil to β-sheet. Remarkably, TSFH preserves its microstructural integrity by preventing micropore fusion. Furthermore, it maintains a micropore wall thickness of 400-800 nm, which closely matches the wavelength of visible light, thereby minimizing light scattering and yielding a transparent hydrogel. Additionally, TSFH exhibits sustained structural stability for over 1 month, serving as an ideal basal substrate for organoid culture and enabling detailed observation of cellular and organoid behavior. These advances represent a significant innovation in the structural modification of silk fibroin, offering a stable and transparent hydrogel platform with broad potential in translational medicine.
Authors
- W L Chen
- Changyu Shao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8191-0871)
- 吕汪洋
- Kangren Kong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0395-2280)
- Ruibo Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1225-3051)
- Hui Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9198-3951)
- Zhanjun Bu
- Hongxia Dai
- Hongbo Pan
- Yunyang Zhang
- Shuo Chen
- Yao Li
- Xiangdong Kong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8916-7058)
- Yunjiu Ren
- Juming Yao
- Jingjing Zhang
Institutions
- Zhejiang Sci-Tech University (CN)
- Zhejiang Provincial Institute of Communications Planning,Design & Research (CN)
- Zhejiang University Medical College Affiliated Stomatological Hospital (CN)
- Stomatology Hospital (CN)
- Hangzhou DAC Biotech (China) (CN)
- China National Silk Museum (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Small
- Published
- 2026-05-10
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202514957
- Primary Topic
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province