Preparation of silk fibroin-derived hydrogels and applications in skin regeneration.

Purpose: To compare different methods of preparing silk fibroin hydrogels, then summarize the applications of silk fibroin hydrogel-based scaffolds in skin regeneration and finally discuss about future prospects to inspire people interested in this field. Methods: A narrative review of the relevant papers was conducted. Notably, for applications in skin regeneration, this review provides a categorized summary and discussion of studies from the past decade. Results: Silk fibroin is a naturally occurring, biocompatible biomaterial that is easily producible. Thanks to its exceptional processability, silk fibroin has found diverse applications in skin regeneration. These applications encompass sponges, fiber fabrics, thin films, and hydrogels. Hydrogels, in particular, are noteworthy due to their water-containing network structure, closely resembling natural tissues. They provide a biomimetic three-dimensional growth environment for cells and have the capacity to incorporate growth factors. Consequently, there are abundant studies of silk fibroin hydrogel-based scaffolds in skin regeneration. Besides, some commercialized medical devices are also made of silk fibroin. Conclusion: Silk fibroin hydrogel could be prepared with multiple methods and it is widely used in constructing scaffolds for efficient skin regeneration. In the future, silk fibroin hydrogel-based skin scaffolds could be more biomimetic and smart.