Background: In this study, silk fibroin (SF) composite hydrogels containing hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles (NPs) for bone tissue engineering were fabricated using gamma-ray (γ-ray) irradiation treatment. During the irradiation, the HAP dispersed SF solution was changed to the chemically crosslinked SF hydrogel.
Methods: Distribution of HAP NPs in the SF hydrogel was examined by SEM imagery and energy dispersive X-ray spectrophotometry, and the crystalline structure of SF composite hydrogels was also confirmed by X-ray diffractometry. An optimum preparation condition of the SF/HAP composite hydrogels was determined with various HAP contents. For evaluation of the osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), HAP nucleation in SBF and in vitro calcium accumulation were measured.
Results: The results revealed that compared with the pure SF hydrogels, the SF/HAP composite hydrogels improved osteogenic differentiation.
Conclusion: This paper demonstrates the great potential of the SF/HAP composite hydrogels in terms of the production of the bone tissue engineering scaffolds for which osteogenesis is required.
Keywords: Bone tissue engineering; Hydrogel; Hydroxyapatite; Irradiation; Silk fibroin.