Silk scaffolds in bone tissue engineering: An overview

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Orthopedic Engineering

Background:

• Bone damage and degenerative diseases are increasing globally, necessitating advanced bone implants.
• Silk is a versatile biopolymer with excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties for bone tissue engineering.
• Silk's ability to support mineralization and integrate with bioactive molecules aids bone regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of silk biomaterials in bone tissue engineering from a materials and fabrication perspective.
• To review the applications of silk in bone regeneration, including scaffolds and delivery systems.
• To highlight the potential of silk-based materials for future clinical applications in skeletal repair.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of silk's use in bone tissue engineering.
• Analysis of silk's material properties, fabrication techniques, and degradation characteristics.
• Examination of in vitro and in vivo studies on silk-based scaffolds for bone and skeletal tissue regeneration.

Main Results:

• Silk-based scaffolds can be fabricated into diverse forms, influencing degradability and suitability for bone reconstruction.
• Silk surfaces promote mineralization and bonding of bioactive molecules, enhancing bone regeneration.
• Silk blends with polymers and minerals, and incorporation of ions like Si and Ca, improve bone regrowth and osteointegration.

Conclusions:

• Silk biomaterials offer significant potential for bone tissue engineering due to their inherent properties and adaptability.
• Advanced fabrication techniques and material modifications are enhancing the efficacy of silk scaffolds for skeletal repair.
• Further interdisciplinary research is crucial to advance silk-based bone tissue engineering towards clinical translation.