journal article·2026-06

Transparent SilMA Hydrogel: Priming Microstructure Regulation for Real‐Time Cell and Organoid Visualization

Yunjiu Ren, Haoran Li, Hongxia Dai, Changyu Shao, Kangren Kong, Yunyang Zhang, Jingjing Zhang, Shuo Chen, Hongbo Pan, Yao Li, Zhanjun Bu, Juming Yao, Wangyang Lu, Ruibo Zhao, Xiangdong Kong, Wenxing Chen

Small· Volume 22· Issue 36
Publisher page

Abstract

ABSTRACT Methacryloylated silk fibroin (SilMA) hydrogels (SFH) are extensively utilized in biomedical fields; however, the inherent opacity restricts their further translational use in regenerative medicine, particularly during the real‐time visualization of cellular behavior. Herein, we report a highly transparent silk fibroin hydrogel (TSFH) fabricated via a bioinspired glutaraldehyde (GA)‐mediated crosslinking strategy that suppresses the conformational transition from random coil to β‐sheet. Remarkably, TSFH preserves its microstructural integrity by preventing micropore fusion. Furthermore, it maintains a micropore wall thickness of 400–800 nm, which closely matches the wavelength of visible light, thereby minimizing light scattering and yielding a transparent hydrogel. Additionally, TSFH exhibits sustained structural stability for over 1 month, serving as an ideal basal substrate for organoid culture and enabling detailed observation of cellular and organoid behavior. These advances represent a significant innovation in the structural modification of silk fibroin, offering a stable and transparent hydrogel platform with broad potential in translational medicine.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Silk-based biomaterials and applications · 3D Printing in Biomedical Research · Hydrogels: synthesis, properties, applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

School of Materials Science & Engineering Zhejiang Sci‐Tech University Hangzhou Zhejiang China

State Key Laboratory of Bio‐based Fiber Materials Zhejiang Sci‐Tech University Hangzhou China

Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Silk and Silk Protein New Materials Zhejiang Sci‐Tech University Hangzhou China

Zhejiang‐Mauritius Joint Research Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Zhejiang Sci‐Tech University Hangzhou China

Stomatology Hospital School of Stomatology Zhejiang University School of Medicine Hangzhou Zhejiang China

Department of Chemistry and Institute of Fundamental Transdisciplinary Research Zhejiang University Hangzhou Zhejiang China

Hangzhou Feiyang Biotechnology Co., Ltd Hangzhou Zhejiang China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China · Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province

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