Development of Silk Microfiber-reinforced Bioink for Muscle Tissue Engineering and in Situ Printing by a Handheld 3D Printer

Volumetric muscle loss (VML) presents a significant challenge in tissue engineering due to the irreparable nature of extensive muscle injuries. In this study, we propose a novel approach for VML treatment using a bioink composed of silk microfiber-reinforced silk fibroin (SF) hydrogel. The engineered scaffolds are predesigned to provide structural support and fiber alignment to promote tissue regeneration in situ. We also validated our custom-made handheld 3D printer performance and showcased its potential applications for in situ printing using robotics. The fiber contents of SF and gelatin ink were varied from 1 to 5 %. Silk fibroin microfibers reinforced ink offered increased viscosity of the gel, which enhanced the shape fidelity and mechanical strength of the bulk scaffold. The fiber-reinforced bioink also demonstrated better cell-biomaterial interaction upon printing. The handheld 3D printer enabled the precise and on-demand fabrication of scaffolds directly at the defect site, for personalized and minimally invasive treatment. This innovative approach holds promise for addressing the challenges associated with VML treatment and advancing the field of regenerative medicine.