Design of antibacterial bilayered silk fibroin-based scaffolds for healing of severe skin damages

Abstract

The main innovation of this study is to design a bilayered scaffold which mimics the basic structural assembles of natural skin as well as carries particular functions to stimulate the healing of severely damaged skin caused by a trauma or a serious burn. To mimic the physical structure of natural skin tissue, silk fibroin sponges with large pores were prepared by freeze-drying method as a dermis-like bottom layer. Heparin was then successfully immobilized to this layer to accelerate wound healing process. Silver sulphadiazine (AgSD), was added to the uppermost layer of the scaffolds, which consists of nanofibers with the thickness range of 117-513 nm.. SEM analysis indicated that both layers of the final construct were very well integrated and showed high level of water absorption capacity without losing this integrity Zone inhibition test against Gram (+) Staphylococcus aureus showed that scaffolds with min. 10% AgSD can inhibit bacterial growth.