Advanced silk-based biotextiles for bone regeneration applications

Increasing efforts have been made in tissue engineering (TE) research for novel biomaterials and scaffolds that can efficiently support bone tissue regeneration and repair. Textile-based technologies are predefined manufacturing processes of particular interest since they allow for producing finely tuned fiber-based structures with controlled three-dimensional architecture and improved mechanical properties. Highly reproducible scaffolds can be achieved with interconnected macro- and micro-porosity suitable for controlling cell functions and guiding bone tissue regeneration and repair. Herein, the recent studies dealing with the processing methodologies, physical properties, and biocompatibility of fiber-based scaffolds for bone TE applications are overviewed. The fundamentals and application of silk fibroin (SF) protein as biomaterial for scaffolds production, made up of micro- and nano-fibers are also considered. The promising outcomes of such investigations are summarized and discussed in depth.