Preparation, Characterization, and Implantation of Porous Fibroin/Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Hydroxyapatite can combine with the bone tissue to promote bone growth; however, it displays low strength and poor toughness. On the other hand, silk fibroin possesses superior mechanical strength and has been used widely in tissue engineering. In the present study, three porous scaffold materials, composed of different ratios of silk fibroin and hydroxyapatite, were synthesized via UV cross-linking. Characterization of these scaffolds was performed using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The compressive strength and elastic modulus of the fibroin/hydroxyapatite (6:4) scaffold was 4.79 and 50.3 MPa, respectively, and its porosity was ∼68%. In rabbits, implantation of the fibroin/hydroxyapatite scaffold promoted repair of the femoral bone defect, eight weeks after implantation. Hence, the silk fibroin/hydroxyapatite scaffold is a promising material for bone tissue engineering.