Biological Evaluation of Silver-Treated Silk Fibroin Scaffolds for Application as Antibacterial and Regenerative Wound Dressings
Chronic wounds represent a major clinical challenge due to their prolonged healing process and susceptibility to bacterial colonization, particularly by biofilm-forming bacteria. To address these issues, in this work, silver-treated silk fibroin scaffolds were developed and tested as multifunctional...
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/12/919 |
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| Summary: | Chronic wounds represent a major clinical challenge due to their prolonged healing process and susceptibility to bacterial colonization, particularly by biofilm-forming bacteria. To address these issues, in this work, silver-treated silk fibroin scaffolds were developed and tested as multifunctional wound dressings, combining antimicrobial and regenerative properties. Silk fibroin, a natural protein derived from <i>Bombyx mori</i> cocoons, is widely recognized for its biocompatibility and suitability for tissue engineering. In this study, porous silk fibroin scaffolds were functionalized with silver nanoparticles through a photo-reduction process and were comprehensively tested for their cytocompatibility and wound healing potential. The excellent antibacterial activity of the silver-treated scaffolds was demonstrated against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and antibiotic-resistant <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, as was extensively reported in a previous work. Biological assays were performed using 3T3 fibroblasts cultured on both untreated and silver-treated silk fibroin scaffolds. Biocompatibility assays, such as MTT, Live/Dead, and cytoskeleton analyses, demonstrated biocompatibility in both scaffold types, comparable to the control. Wound healing potential was assessed using in vitro scratch assays, revealing full wound closure (100%) after 24 h in cells cultured with untreated and silver-treated silk fibroin scaffolds, in contrast to 78.5% closure in the control. Notably, silver-treated scaffolds exhibited enhanced fibroblast repopulation within the wound gap, suggesting a synergistic effect of silver and fibroin in promoting tissue regeneration. These findings demonstrate that silver-treated silk fibroin scaffolds possess both anti-microbial and regenerative properties, making them promising candidates for chronic wound management applications. |
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| ISSN: | 2079-4991 |