Recent Advances in Silk Fibroin-Based Composites for Bone Repair Applications: A Review

Silk fibroin (SF), a natural high-molecular-weight fiber protein extracted from silk, has demonstrated immense potential in bone tissue repair and regeneration due to its exceptional physicochemical properties. Silk fibroin can be processed into various scaffold forms using diverse fabrication techniques, combined with other biomaterials to create composite structures, or chemically modified to address a wide range of bone defect conditions. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the role of silk fibroin and its composites in bone tissue engineering, with particular emphasis on preclinical studies investigating various silk fibroin-based composite scaffolds in osteogenesis. Additionally, it discusses the current status and challenges in preparing silk fibroin scaffolds tailored to bone tissue defects and explores innovative approaches such as silk fibroin membranes, hydrogels, and 3D-printed constructs. The review begins with an introduction to bone biology, including its composition, structure, healing mechanisms, and the development of bone repair materials. It then delves into the unique properties of silk fibroin, including its composition, structure, and physicochemical attributes, which make it an ideal candidate for bone tissue engineering. This review provides valuable insights into their design, fabrication, and application by critically analyzing recent advancements in silk fibroin-based scaffolds and their functional modifications. Finally, it offers a forward-looking perspective on the future development and translational potential of silk fibroin and its composites in the field of bone repair materials.