Sustainable Silk Fibroin Nanofibers Membranes with Natural Photothermal and Bioactive Components for Adhesive-Free Soft Tissue Repair

Multifunctional silk fibroin (SF) nanofibrous membranes incorporating cuttlefish ink (CI) and vitamin B2 (VitB2) were developed via water-based electrospinning as bioactive scaffolds for soft tissue regeneration and laser-assisted tissue welding. CI provided antioxidant and photothermal properties, while VitB2 promoted cellular proliferation. Membranes exhibited controlled VitB2 release and CI retention within the matrix. NIH-3T3 fibroblast assays confirmed high viability (>80% at 48 h), with CI promoting adhesion and cytoskeletal organization, and VitB2 enabling formation of a confluent, organized cell layer. Laser-assisted welding produced satisfactory adhesion and shear-stress resistance on the order of ten kPa in ex vivo tendons, corneas, and sclerae, while keeping tissue temperatures below the 60 °C threshold for thermal damage. These findings highlight CI- and VitB2-loaded SF membranes as sustainable, cytocompatible scaffolds with antioxidant and adhesive functionalities, offering a versatile platform for soft tissue repair via an adhesive-free approach.