Tailoring silk-based matrices for tissue regeneration.

Silk fibroin has gained in the last years increasing interest as material for the fabrication of scaffolds for tissue engineering. Recently, the ability of silk fibroin to establish a direct cross-talk with the biological environment has been reported, showing the potential to promote cells adhesion, proliferation and metabolic activity forward the production both in vitro and in vivo of complex multifunctional tissues. After reviewing the main characteristics and applications of silk fibroin, the chapter focuses on the effect of processing on fibroin physical and biological properties, and addresses two particularly demanding tissue regeneration applications, i.e., cartilage and bone tissue engineering. Specifically, methods of production of silk fibroin non-woven nets, sponges and hydrogels are described and the possibility to induce in vitro vascularization of the scaffold prior the implantation is reported. Moreover, results on the ability of the material to support also the ostegenic differentiation of stem cells from other sources are discussed as preliminary to regenerative medicine therapy.