Influence of PLDLA on the Rheological Properties of Regenerated Silk Fibroin-Based Gels

Regenerated silk fibroin (RSF), obtained from the silk fibers of the species Bombyx mori, is a promising biomaterial due to its excellent mechanical and biological properties, as well as presenting versatility for applications in tissue engineering. This is particularly evident through the development of scaffolds via the 3D printing process. The viscosity of RSF solutions can be controlled by adding other synthetic polymers, thereby ensuring improved mechanical and rheological properties and enhanced quality of printed structures. The objective of this study is to investigate the rheological properties of gels based on RSF and PLDLA (poly(l-co-d,l-lactic acid)). The study involved the synthesis of PLDLA and the extraction of RSF from the silk threads of B. mori. Subsequently, RSF-PLDLA solutions in formic acid were prepared with varying concentrations, and subsequently subjected to rheological tests under steady-state and oscillatory regimes.