Development and Characterization of Electrospun Silk Fibroin Scaffolds Reinforced with Gold Nanoparticles

Developments in the field of nanotechnology have made it possible to harness the physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials; in this regard, some nanoparticles are being targeted for applications in the diagnosis and treatment of various pathologies. In this field, various biomaterials of natural or synthetic origin developed currently can incorporate biologically active components to define complex and dynamic interactions that promote and regulate the events occurring in a cellular microenvironment. This research focused on the development of a polymeric scaffold reinforced with gold nanoparticles to determine its morphological, physical, chemical, and electrical properties. The results showed three-dimensional fibrillar structures with fiber diameters ranging from 74 to 98 nm, which were reinforced with gold nanoparticles with a tendency toward sphericity and diameters between 11 and 14 nm. In addition, the presence of functional groups such as CO, CH, amide A, I, II, and III was determined, demonstrating the interaction between silk fibroin, the synthetic polymer, and gold nanoparticles, obtained from biosynthesis with silk fibroin. Furthermore, scaffolds functionalized with gold nanoparticles show increased electrical conductivity due to a smaller filament diameter that increases the contact surface and causes electrons to move more quickly. Due to their functional characteristics, these nanostructured scaffolds could be candidates for use in generating bioelectrical connection bridges in the field of biomedical engineering.