Cellular Interactions and Biological Effects of Silk Fibroin: Implications for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

From molecular mechanisms to clinical translation: Silk fibroin-based biomaterials for next-generation wound healing

Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural polymeric material that has attracted intense research attention in the field of wound healing due to its exceptional mechanical properties, tunable biodegradability, and multifunctional bioactivity. This review systematically summarizes the preparation strategies, functional modifications, and multidimensional application mechanisms of SF and its composite materials in wound healing. The innovative applications of SF in intelligent dressing design, immunometabolic regulation, controlled drug release, stem-cell function modulation, and bioelectrical-activity-mediated microenvironment remodeling is further explored, while analyzing the therapeutic efficacy and cost-effectiveness of SF through clinical translation cases. Distinct from previous reviews, this work not only integrates the latest advances in SF molecular mechanisms and material design but also emphasizes its potential in precision medicine, such as the development of genetically engineered SF for customized immunoregulatory networks. Finally, the article highlights the current challenges in the development of SF materials, including mechanical stability, degradation controllability, and standardization of large-scale production, and envisions future research directions driven by 3D bioprinting and synthetic biology technologies. This review provides a theoretical foundation and technical reference information for the development of efficient, multifunctional, and clinically translatable SF-based materials for application in wound healing.

Protein-Based Multifunctional Hydrogel Adhesive for Wound Healing

Wound healing is a complex and highly orchestrated biological process that encompasses four distinct stages including: hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. Each stage is characterized by specific physiological responses and tissue repair mechanisms that collectively facilitate the restoration of tissue integrity. To achieve comprehensive wound management, the development of targeted hydrogel bioadhesives is of paramount importance. Hydrogel-based bioadhesives, characterized by their excellent physical properties and biocompatibility, have demonstrated significant potential in the field of wound treatment. However, the current research on protein-based hydrogel bioadhesives for wound healing remains limited. This review systematically examines the design principles of ideal hydrogel bioadhesives and their essential functions in wound repair. It provides an overview of the latest advancements multifunctional hydrogel bioadhesives derived from various proteins, including collagen, silk fibroin (SF), sericin, fibrin, gelatin (Gel), keratin, and casein. It also evaluates their performance in practical applications. Finally, the review highlights the primary challenges facing protein-based hydrogel bioadhesives in the field of wound healing and outlines prospective research directions, with the goal of advancing the development and clinical application of these technologies.

Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cell-seeded regenerated silk fibroin scaffolds reverse liver fibrosis in mice

Liver fibrosis (LF) is an important process in the progression of chronic liver disease to cirrhosis. We have previously demonstrated that a regenerated silk fibroin scaffold loaded with adipose-derived stem cells (RSF + ADSCs) can repair acute liver injury. In this study, we established a chronic LF animal model using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and a high-fat diet. We then investigated the liver repair capacity after transplanting RSF + ADSC scaffolds and RSF scaffolds onto the liver surface of mice. Compared with the control group, the concentrations of ALT and AST in the serum were significantly reduced in the RSF and RSF + ADSC groups. HE staining and Masson trichrome staining revealed a decrease in the SAF score in both the RSF and RSF + ADSC groups. Meanwhile, the biomarkers of blood vessels and bile ducts, such as CD34, ERG, muc1, and CK19, were significantly elevated in the RSF + ADSC group. Finally, transcriptome analysis showed that the PPAR signaling pathway, which inhibits liver fibrosis, was significantly upregulated in both the RSF and RSF + ADSC groups. Our study suggests that, compared with RSF scaffolds alone, RSF + ADSCs have a significant repair effect on chronic LF in mice.