Silk Fibroin Hydrogel for Scavenging Reactive Oxygen Species

By UV-induced polymerization of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA) in glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) modified silk fibroin (SF) solution, the conductive hydrogel PEDOT:PSS/PDA/SF was prepared. The morphology and structure were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy, while the mechanical properties (rheological performance, compressive performance, and tensile performance), stability in different solution environments (moisture content and swelling rate), and active oxygen scavenging ability were further examined through comparative experiments. The results demonstrate that compared to pure SF, hydrogels exhibit an increased content of β-sheets, resulting in higher crystallinity and improved structural stability. Moreover, the hydrogel possesses a uniform three-dimensional network structure with a penetrating, homogeneous, and smooth porous microstructure. In water and PBS (pH 7.4), the hydrogels display water absorption rates of 500% and 50%, respectively, along with volume expansion rates of 600% and 60%. The hydrogels can effectively maintain their form while retaining some water absorption properties when immersed in water or PBS solutions. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibits excellent tensile strength as well as compression properties comparable to human soft tissue's Young's modulus (8 kPa). Furthermore, this material demonstrates a certain electrical conductivity which is beneficial for wound healing purposes. Notably, the hydrogel also exhibits remarkable reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging ability, suggesting its potential applications in inflammation reduction, oxidative stress relief, and wound healing acceleration processes.