Controllable Production of Natural Silk Nanofibrils for Reinforcing Silk-Based Orthopedic Screws

Redefining Surgical Materials: Applications of Silk Fibroin in Osteofixation and Fracture Repair

Silk and silk derivatives have emerged as a possible alternative in surgical device development, offering mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and environmental sustainability. Through a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines, this study evaluated silk fibroin's application across pre-clinical and clinical settings, focusing on its role as screws and plates for osteofixation. A comprehensive search yielded 245 studies, with 33 subjected to full-text review and 15 ultimately included for qualitative analysis. The findings underscore silk fibroin's superior properties, including its tunable degradation rates and ability to be functionalized with therapeutic agents. In vivo and in vitro studies demonstrated its efficacy in enhancing bone healing, offering improved outcomes in osteofixation, particularly for craniofacial defects. Silk fibroin's remarkable attributes in biodegradation and drug release capabilities underscore its potential to enhance patient care. Ultimately, silk fibroin's integration into surgical practices promises a revolution in patient outcomes and environmental sustainability. Its versatility, coupled with the continuous progress in fabrication techniques, signals a promising horizon for its widespread acceptance in the medical field, potentially establishing a new benchmark in surgical treatment. Further research is expected to solidify the transition of silk products from basic science to patient care, paving the way for widespread use in various surgical applications.

Artificial Intelligence-Based 3D Printing Strategies for Bone Scaffold Fabrication and Its Application in Preclinical and Clinical Investigations

3D printing has become increasingly popular in the field of bone tissue engineering. However, the mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and porosity of the 3D printed bone scaffolds are major requirements for tissue regeneration and implantation as well. Designing the scaffold architecture in accordance with the need to create better mechanical and biological stimuli is necessary to achieve unique scaffold properties. To accomplish this, different 3D designing strategies can be utilized with the help of the scaffold design library and artificial intelligence (AI). The implementation of AI to assist the 3D printing process can enable it to predict, adapt, and control the parameters on its own, which lowers the risk of errors. This Review emphasizes 3D design and fabrication of bone scaffold using different materials and the use of AI-aided 3D printing strategies. Also, the adaption of AI to 3D printing helps to develop patient-specific scaffolds based on different requirements, thus providing feedback and adequate data for reproducibility, which can be improvised in the future. These printed scaffolds can also serve as an alternative to preclinical animal test models to cut costs and prevent immunological interference.