Preparation of Silk Fibroin Hydrogel Assisted by Photo‐Crosslinking and Electrospinning: Mechanical, Slow Release, and Antibacterial Properties

ABSTRACT An ideal wound dressing requires a scaffold with extracellular matrix‐mimicking fiber structure and elastic properties, which can influence cellular functions and tissue regeneration. This study presents a novel strategy to fabricate silk fibroin (SF) hydrogel fibers that combine hydrogel softness with electrospun fiber structural advantages through electrospinning and UV photo‐crosslinking. RSF modified with glycidyl methacrylate (RSF‐GMA) was prepared and electrospun with optimized parameters (21 kV voltage, 12 μL/min extrusion rate), followed by UV photo‐crosslinking (365 nm, 5 min). The resulting hydrogel fiber membranes exhibited excellent structural stability and multifunctional properties. Mechanical strength analysis showed wet‐state fracture strain of 56.1%, approximately 11 times higher than the dry state (5.1%). The hydrogel fiber membrane achieves sustained effective drug release over 144 h. In vitro degradation tests show 62% mass loss after 7 days in α‐chymotrypsin solution, while maintaining structural integrity in PBS. The membrane loaded with streptomycin maintains antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli for 36 h. The UV photo‐crosslinking strategy successfully imparts hydrogel properties and structural stability, while optimized parameters ensure uniform fiber distribution. These findings demonstrate that the prepared RSF hydrogel fiber membranes show significant potential as multifunctional biomaterials for wound dressings, drug delivery, and tissue engineering applications.