Oriented Cortical‐Bone‐Like Silk Protein Lamellae Effectively Repair Large Segmental Bone Defects in Pigs

• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202414543
• Publication Date: 2025-01-28T08:36:03Z
• Authors: Yajun Shuai; Tao Yang; Meidan Zheng; Li Zheng; Jie Wang; Chuanbin Mao; Mingying Yang
• Keywords: Fibroin; Bone Growth

Abstract Assembling natural proteins into large, strong, bone‐mimetic scaffolds for repairing bone defects in large‐animal load‐bearing sites remain elusive. Here this challenge is tackled by assembling pure silk fibroin (SF) 3D with cortical‐bone‐like lamellae, superior strength, and biodegradability through freeze‐casting. The unique lamellae promote the attachment, migration, proliferation of tissue‐regenerative cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem [MSCs] human umbilical vein endothelial cells) around them, are capable developing vitro cortical‐bone organoids a high number MSC‐derived osteoblasts. High‐SF‐content lamellar scaffolds, regardless MSC inoculation, regenerated more than non‐lamellar or low‐SF‐content scaffolds. They accelerated neovascularization transforming macrophages from M1 to M2 phenotype, promoting regeneration repair large segmental (LSBD) minipigs within three months, even without growth factor supplements. can be further enhanced controlling orientation lamella parallel long axis during implantation. This work demonstrates power oriented bone‐like protein LSBD animal models.