A Composite Silk Fibroin Hydrogel for Localized and Sustained Simvastatin Delivery to Diabetic Wounds

Diabetic wounds represent a significant clinical challenge due to impaired wound healing. Decreased lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis during wound healing is a well-established consequence of diabetes. Simvastatin promotes angiogenesis and has anti-inflammatory effects in both acute and chronic wounds, making it a promising candidate for overcoming current therapeutic limitations. Local delivery of simvastatin via a sustained-release topical biodegradable dressing could offer advantages in treating diabetic chronic wounds. This study developed a composite silk fibroin hydrogel incorporating simvastatin-loaded PLA microparticles. The simvastatin-loaded PLA microparticles were prepared by double emulsion solvent evaporation method and characterized by FTIR, SEM, and size analysis. Microparticles were spherical with a mean diameter of ۹.۲ ± ۳.۳ μm and low polydispersity of ۰.۱۵. High encapsulation efficiency (۶۷.۲ ± ۵.۲%) and yield (۸۴ ± ۷.۲%) were achieved. Afterward, the simvastatin-loaded microparticles were loaded into the silk hydrogel, and then the composite hydrogel was characterized by FTIR and SEM. Composite hydrogels were characterized by FTIR and SEM, which confirmed gel formation and uniform microparticles distribution within an interconnected porous network (mean pore size ۲۰۳ ± ۲۴ μm). The hydrogel exhibited a swelling ratio of ۱۸.۲ ± ۲.۵% and water vapor transmission rate of ۲۹۵۰ ± ۱۸۳ g/m۲/day. In vitro, simvastatin release occurred over ۷ days. MTT assays demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility and ability to support cell growth and proliferation. This novel composite silk hydrogel capable of sustained simvastatin release represents a promising platform for accelerating diabetic wound healing through angiogenic effects.

کلیدواژه ها:

Chronic wound ، Hydrogel ، Simvastatin ، Microparticle ، Silk fibroin