This study describes the developmental physicochemical properties of silk fibroin scaffolds derived from 26
high-concentration aqueous silk fibroin solutions. The silk fibroin scaffolds were prepared with different 27
initial concentrations (8, 10, 12 and 16%, in wt.%) and obtained by combining the salt-leaching and freeze- 28
drying methodologies. The results indicated that the antiparallel b-pleated sheet (silk-II) conformation 29
was present in the silk fibroin scaffolds. All the scaffolds possessed a macro/microporous structure. 30
Homogeneous porosity distribution was achieved in all the groups of samples. As the silk fibroin concen- 31
tration increased from 8 to 16%, the mean porosity decreased from 90.8 ± 0.9 to 79.8 ± 0.3% and the mean 32
interconnectivity decreased from 97.4 ± 0.5 to 92.3 ± 1.3%. The mechanical properties of the scaffolds 33
exhibited concentration dependence. The dry state compressive modulus increased from 0.81 ± 0.29 to 34
15.14 ± 1.70 MPa and the wet state dynamic storage modulus increased by around 20- to 30-fold at each 35
testing frequency when the silk fibroin concentration increased from 8 to 16%. The water uptake ratio 36
decreased with increasing silk fibroin concentration. The scaffolds present favorable stability as their 37
structure integrity, morphology and mechanical properties were maintained after in vitro degradation 38
for 30 days. Based on these results, the scaffolds developed in this study are proposed to be suitable 39
for use in meniscus and cartilage tissue-engineered scaffolding.