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Methacrylated Silk Fibroin (SilMA)

Methacrylated Silk Fibroin (SilMA)

Methacrylated Silk Fibroin (SilMA) is a photocrosslinkable silk‑based biomaterial engineered from natural silk fibroin to achieve high water solubility, rapid light‑induced gelation, and excellent biocompatibility. By introducing methacrylate groups into the silk fibroin backbone, SilMA overcomes the poor solubility and spontaneous gelation of native SF, enabling fast and stable hydrogel formation in aqueous environments. Combining the inherent strength, biodegradability, and cell‑friendly properties of silk with the precision of photocuring, SilMA has become a highly versatile material for biofabrication, 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, wound healing, and advanced biomedical research.
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Description

Silk fibroin (SF), derived from natural silkworm silk through degumming, is a high‑molecular‑weight polypeptide composed of diverse amino acids. Its molecular architecture contains hydrophobic heavy chains (H‑chains) and hydrophilic light chains (L‑chains). The unique amino‑acid sequence enables multiple secondary structures, allowing precise control over material properties—such as high strength and molecular alignment—through conformational regulation.

Silk fibroin exhibits excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and mechanical robustness. It has been widely used in wound dressings, artificial blood vessels, and cell scaffolds, and is FDA‑approved for certain biomedical applications, making it one of the most promising natural biomaterials.

To overcome the poor water solubility and spontaneous gelation behavior of native silk fibroin, we developed a photocurable methacrylated silk fibroin (SilMA) through methacrylation modification. By introducing vinyl groups into the SF backbone, SilMA achieves significantly improved water solubility and solution stability. It can rapidly photocrosslink and form hydrogels in aqueous environments, greatly expanding its potential in biofabrication and advanced biomedical engineering.

 

Key Features

  • Rapid Photocuring: Forms a stable hydrogel within 10 seconds under visible light.
  • Excellent Biocompatibility: Supports cell adhesion, proliferation, and functional expression.
  • Tunable Mechanical Properties: Modulus and viscoelasticity can be precisely adjusted to meet application needs.
  • High Formulation Versatility: Compatible with hydrogels such as GelMA and HAMA for composite systems.
  • Ideal for Bio‑3D Printing: Highly suited for DLP‑based bioprinting with outstanding printing fidelity.

 

MA Series

 

 

 

Only for research and not intended for treatment of humans or animals

 

 

Journals Using SBS Genetech Products                                        Universities Using SBS Genetech Products

 

 

SBS Genetech is a long-term sponsor of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

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