Preparation and in vitro degradation of porous three-dimensional silk fibroin/chitosan scaffold

Degradation behaviors of porous scaffolds play an important role in the engineering process of a new tissue. In this study, three-dimensional porous silk fibroin/chitosan (SFCS) scaffolds were successfully prepared by freeze-drying method. In vitro degradation behaviors of SFCS scaffolds have been systematically investigated up to 8 weeks in phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution at 37 °C. The following properties of the scaffolds were measured as a function of degradation time: pore morphology, structure, weight loss, and wet/dry weight value. The pH value of the PBS solution during degradation was also detected. SFCS scaffolds maintained its porous structure till 6 weeks of degradation. During the first 2 weeks, the pH value fluctuated in a narrow range from 6.53 to 6.93. SFCS scaffolds degraded much more quickly during the first 2 weeks, and the weight loss reached 19.28 wt% after 8 weeks of degradation. The degradation process affects little SFCS scaffolds' swelling properties.