Silk based freeze gelated antibacterial 3D scaffolds for enhanced wound healing

Skin injuries, including ulcers and burns, affect millions globally, imposing substantial burdens on individuals and healthcare systems. Tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach for developing advanced biomaterials to address burns and ulcers related complications. This study focuses on fabricating and characterizing silk fibroin (SF) and chitosan (CS) scaffolds supplemented with almond oil for potential applications in wound healing, infection prevention and skin tissue regeneration. Utilizing the freeze gelation technique, composite SF/CS scaffolds were fabricated and subjected to comprehensive chemical (FTIR), physical (porosity, density, swelling properties, drug release, and degradation properties), and biological assessments (in-vitro cell studies). Among the formulations examined, scaffolds enriched with 10 % almond oil exhibited optimal properties, showcasing a desirable porosity of 21 %, reduced density (20.5 mg/L), heightened swelling capacity (962 % after 72 h), and sustained drug release and scaffold degradation over time (up to 20 % in 28 days). The new composite scaffold supplemented with almond oil demonstrated antibacterial activity, biocompatibility, enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. The scaffold also exhibited improved cell migration which is the key property for wound healing. The seven-day cell viability study suggested a significant increase (97 %) as compared to silk, chitosan, or silk/chitosan scaffolds. The findings underscore the potential of SF/CS scaffolds integrated with 10 % almond oil as a promising biomaterial for skin tissue regeneration.