Harnessing Hydrolized Silk Fibroin in Electrospun Nanofibers for Biomedical Applications

Abstract

This study focuses on the development of bioactive nanofibers by incorporating silk protein hydrolysate into polymer solutions composed of both synthetic and natural polymers. Electrospinning was used to fabricate fibers from solutions made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and chitosan, each prepared with appropriate solvents to enhance process stability and fiber quality. The silk protein hydrolysate was incorporated to improve the biological properties of the resulting nanofibers, targeting potential biomedical applications such as wound healing and tissue engineering. Various challenges during electrospinning, including jet instability and phase separation, were addressed by adjusting solution compositions and processing parameters. The resulting nanofibers were uniform and free of bead defects, demonstrating the successful integration of silk protein with the polymers. However, the combination of PVA and PCL with silk protein hydrolysate presents both advantages and limitations, influencing the properties and performance of the electrospun nanofibers. Future work will involve comprehensive physicochemical and biological evaluations to fully explore the fibers’ functionality and their potential for biomedical applications.