Prominent alveolar bone graft substitute derived from silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid/demineralized dentin matrix hybrid hydrogel

Bone graft substitutes are commonly used to repair large bone defect, and restoring the alveolar bone defects in height and width is a major challenge in restorative dentistry. In comparison with clinic bone graft substitutes such as bovine-derived powder and hydroxyapatite, demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) is a valuable alternative due to its compositional similarity to human-derived bone. However, a challenge remains in using DDM for bone rehabilitation, particularly in maintaining spatial morphology due to its granular form. This study developed an effective bone graft substitute using DDM particles in a fast-cured silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid methacrylate (SF/HAMA) hydrogel, which adheres well to the alveolar bone defect and rapidly gels under blue light. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the biocompatibility of this hybrid hydrogel. The ability to repair bone defects was tested on cranial defects in rats and mandibular defects in beagles. Results showed that the in situ composites exhibited excellent mechanical strength and biocompatibility, with micro-computed tomography and histology confirming the best bone regeneration effect of the SF/HAMA/DDM-50 hybrid hydrogel. This composited bone graft substitute could provide a novel strategy for the clinical treatment of alveolar bone defects and is a promising candidate for bone tissue reconstruction and regeneration.