Biomimetic silk fibroin meshes for regenerative soft tissue repair: Multiscale evaluation of a spatiotemporally active scaffold

Abstract

Background

To address traditional/commercial surgical meshes linked complications like fibrosis, seroma, and bacterial infections, this study highlights the benefits of using lightweight, large-pore, all natural material meshes for abdominal wall healing, soft tissue repair and regeneration.

Method

This study presents a first-of-its-kind approach combining hand-knitted silk fibroin (SF) meshes with spin-assisted dip-coated biopolymer–phytochemical composites for soft tissue repair. The multifunctional mesh fabricated via a sustainable crochet method- weft hand-knitted silk fibroin (SF) meshes was surface-functionalized with spin-assisted dip biopolymer–phytochemical coatings. 5 % natural extracts (LE and BE) replace antibiotics, providing antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects without toxicity. Tailored 12 % PHBV, PLA, and PCL coatings enable controlled drug release and extended degradation aligned with tissue repair. These modified meshes were analyzed in four phases i.e. material characterization, in silico assessments, in vitro testing, and in vivo analysis.

Results

Among the variants, PHBV modified meshes as an efficient drug delivery system with reduced pore size and increased fiber diameter (623.9 ± 66.7 μm and 12.1 ± 2.9 μm respectively). Specifically PHBV-LE emerged as the most effective composite with release kinetics of 70.4 % showing intermediate release of LE mediating the potent antimicrobial character. The PHBV-LE variant was a superior candidate with pore size promoting fibroblast proliferation (121.5 %), effective cell attachment, wound closure (88.27 %), and highly significant gene upregulation of key wound-healing markers (MMP3, FGF-1, TGFβ-1). In vivo analysis in rat models (Dawley) showed accelerated tissue integration and collagen deposition, indicating effective tissue repair and regeneration by PHBV-LE.

Conclusion

These meshes exhibited excellent material, antibacterial, and wound-healing properties, with lightweight structure, optimal pore size, and efficient drug delivery. Among all biomimetic SF composites, PHBV-LE emulates superior native extracellular matrix features, serving as multifunctional platforms for soft tissue repair and in vitro therapeutic evaluation.