Silk Fibroin Hydrogels: Cutting-Edge Developments and Future Directions

Abstract: The exploration of hydrogel materials has gained significant attention due to the ongoing period of collaborative interdisciplinary advancements. Silk fibroin (SF) possesses remarkable attributes, such as less immunogenicity, sterilization efficacy, processability without chemical crosslinkers, excellent biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, non-toxicity, mechanical strength, thermal stability, non-carcinogenicity, and adjustable biodegradability make it a highly valuable biomaterial. Silk fibroin hydrogel (SFH), a versatile biomaterial, has garnered significant attention due to its unique properties. Its biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, water retention capacity, and bioactive nature offer a unique combination of features that can effectively promote tissue regeneration and enhance wound healing. The utilization of SF for hydrogel production presents a valuable opportunity to leverage natural resources and promote eco-friendly production practices. With their exceptional properties and versatile applications in biomedicine, silk protein- based hydrogels hold promise for various research fields. This review aims to discuss the potential properties and recent advancements in the application of SF-based hydrogels for preclinical skin wound healing.