Silk Fibroin Methacryloyl (SilkMA)

Silk Fibroin (SF) is obtained through the degumming of silk, resulting in a high-molecular-weight polypeptide rich in various amino acids. It features both a hydrophobic (H) and a hydrophilic (L) peptide chain, with their unique amino acid sequences enabling the formation of diverse protein secondary structures. By manipulating these structures, the properties of silk fibroin materials can be tailored, enabling the creation of materials that are high-strength and highly oriented. SF is renowned for its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and high tensile strength, making it a preferred choice in biomedical applications like wound dressings, artificial blood vessels, and cell culture.

Methacrylated silk fibroin, known as Silk Fibroin Methacryloyl (SilMA), is produced by modifying SF with glycidyl methacrylate, introducing double bonds into the SF molecule. This modification alters the SF’s spatial structure, transforming it from a crystal that’s challenging to dissolve in water to a material that can easily be dissolved and subsequently photocured into a hydrogel. This process enhances SilMA’s utility in various applications by facilitating its use in forming hydrogels.