Preparation and Properties of Silk I Structured Fibroin Scaffolds via Calcium Chloride-Formic Acid Solvent System

The process of creating a silk fibroin scaffold material with a silk Ⅰ structure begins with dissolving degummed silk in a calcium chloride-formic acid solvent. Following this, a custom-made humidification device is employed to treat the solution. Subsequently, the solution is dialyzed in a dilute alkaline solution to obtain an aqueous silk fibroin solution. This solution is then subjected to freeze induction and freeze-drying, resulting in the formation of the desired silk fibroin scaffold material. The morphology, structure, thermal stability, porosity, mechanical properties, and enzymatic degradation of the resulting scaffold are thoroughly characterized and tested using various analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical analysis. The results indicate that the prepared silk fibroin scaffold material exhibits a stable silk Ⅰstructure, with properties such as porosity, enzymatic degradability, and mechanical strength that can be adjusted.