Silk Fibroin: Photocrosslinking of Silk Fibroin Using Riboflavin for Ocular Prostheses (Adv. Mater. 12/2016)

Abstract

A study is conducted using flavin-mononucleotide (FMN) as a photoinitiator to catalyze the transition of a liquid silk solution to a highly elastic hydrogel in the presence of light. The researchers engaged in the study describe the theory of the mechanism of silk-ribofl avin photocrosslinking and look at the ability of this system to generate high resolution patterns of silk using photolithography. They also discuss a pilot study in enucleated porcine eyes in which we show the silk hydrogels are capable of adhering to de-epithelialized cornea.