Biocompatible hydrogel microspheres based on modified silk fibroin and gelatin for injectable 3D bone tissue scaffolds

Abstract Currently investigated two-dimensional cell culture systems are typically inadequate for large-scale cell expansion and prone to causing altered cell morphology, aberrant differentiation, and distorted protein expression. To overcome these limitations, a glycidyl methacrylate-modified silk fibroin (SFMA)/methacrylic anhydride-modified gelatin (GelMA) interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel (SFMA-GelMA) was developed via microfluidic fabrication for three-dimensional (3D) bone tissue engineering applications. With increased SFMA content, the molecular chains in SFMA-GelMA undergo a structural transformation from random coil to β -sheet and β -crystallite, enhancing storage modulus to about 500 Pa and extending degradation duration from about 47.7% to 84.3% mass retention over 7d. The higher GelMA content with the arginine–glycine–aspartic acid sequence in SFMA-GelMA facilitated early cell adhesion, provided interconnected pores (5–80 μm diameter), and promoted the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1preosteoblasts in 3D culture, as confirmed by alkaline phosphatase activity up to about 45 U mg −1 protein. Overall, SFMA-GelMA shows substantial potential as a 3D cell culture scaffold and injectable material for regenerative medicine, particularly in bone tissue engineering.