Bioprinting a skin patch with dual-crosslinked gelatin (GelMA) and silk fibroin (SilMA): An approach to accelerating cutaneous wound healing

Clinical settings often face significant obstacles in treating large acute wounds. The alternative of therapeutic approach is needed urgently. Hydrogels derived from natural or synthetic materials may be designed to perform a variety of functions for promoting wound healing. Herein, a 3D bioprinted hydrogel patch is designed for accelerating acute wound healing, which is fabricated with methacryloyl-substituted gelatin (GelMA) and silk fibroin (SilMA) dual-cross-linked by ultraviolet (UV) light. The GelMA with added silk fibroin (GelSilMA) shows improved biodegradation and mechanical properties. Furthermore, SilMA hydrogel can maintain a moisturized healing environment in wound area persistently with adequate degradation capacity. In vivo, GelSilMA (G-S) hydrogel can help to speed wound closure by the improved microenvironment for epidermal tissue regeneration and endogenous collagen generation accordingly. In summary, the G-S hydrogel patch can accelerate acute wound healing efficiently in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner.