Silk fibroin nanocomposites as tissue engineering scaffolds – A systematic review

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 141; p. 111924
• Main Authors: Zuluaga-Vélez, Augusto, Quintero-Martinez, Adrián, Orozco, Lina M., Sepúlveda-Arias, Juan C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.09.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Infective Agents - chemical synthesis; Biocompatible Materials - administration & dosage; Biocompatible Materials - chemical synthesis; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - physiology; Fibroins - administration & dosage; Fibroins - chemical synthesis; Humans; Immunologic Factors - administration & dosage; Immunologic Factors - chemical synthesis; Nanocomposite; Nanocomposites - administration & dosage; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Neovascularization, Physiologic - drug effects; Neovascularization, Physiologic - physiology; Regenerative medicine; Silk fibroin; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue scaffold; Tissue Scaffolds - chemistry; Tissue scaffold; Silk fibroin; Nanocomposite; Tissue engineering; Regenerative medicine
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111924

Silk fibroin is a protein with intrinsic characteristics that make it a good candidate as a scaffold for tissue engineering. Recent works have enhanced its benefits by adding inorganic phases that interact with silk fibroin in different ways. A systematic review was performed in four databases to study the physicochemical and biological performance of silk fibroin nanocomposites. In the last decade, only 51 articles contained either in vitro cell culture models or in vivo tests. The analysis of such works resulted in their classification into the following scaffold types: particles, mats and textiles, films, hydrogels, sponge-like structures, and mixed conformations. From the physicochemical perspective, the inorganic phase imbued in silk fibroin nanocomposites resulted in better stability and mechanical performance. This review revealed that the inorganic phase may be associated with specific biological responses, such as neovascularisation, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, and antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity. The study of nanocomposites as tissue engineering scaffolds is a highly active area mostly focused on bone and cartilage regeneration with promising results. Nonetheless, there are still many challenges related to their application in other tissues, a better understanding of the interaction between the inorganic and organic phases, and the associated biological response. [Display omitted] •A systematic review on the use of silk fibroin nanocomposites as tissue engineering scaffolds was carried out.•A total of 51 studies were included after exclusion criteria.•The inorganic phase in silk fibroin nanocomposites resulted in better physicochemical stability and biological responses.•Silk fibroin nanocomposites have enormous potential as scaffolds for tissue engineering.