# Silk fibroin hydrogel adhesive enables sealed-tight reconstruction of meniscus tears

## TL;DR

A new adhesive made from silk fibroin helps repair meniscus tears more effectively than traditional sutures, promoting healing and reducing re-tear risks.

## Contribution

A dual-functional bioadhesive (S-PIL10) combining adhesion and regeneration for meniscus repair is developed.

## Key findings

- S-PIL10 shows enhanced wet adhesion, swelling resistance, and anti-fatigue properties compared to silk fibroin gel.
- In vivo tests in rabbits demonstrate seamless and dense reconstruction of torn meniscus.
- S-PIL10 reduces reactive oxygen species and continuously releases TGF-β1 to aid tissue regeneration.

## Abstract

Despite orientationally variant tears of the meniscus, suture repair is the current clinical gold treatment. However, inaccessible tears in company with re-tears susceptibility remain unresolved. To extend meniscal repair tools from the perspective of adhesion and regeneration, we design a dual functional biologic-released bioadhesive (S-PIL10) comprised of methacrylated silk fibroin crosslinked with phenylboronic acid-ionic liquid loading with growth factor TGF-β1, which integrates chemo-mechanical restoration with inner meniscal regeneration. Supramolecular interactions of β-sheets and hydrogen bonds richened by phenylboronic acid-ionic liquid (PIL) result in enhanced wet adhesion, swelling resistance, and anti-fatigue capabilities, compared to neat silk fibroin gel. Besides, elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by S-PIL10 further fortifies localized meniscus tear repair by affecting inflammatory microenvironment with dynamic borate ester bonds, and S-PIL10 continuously releases TGF-β1 for cell recruitment and bridging of defect edge. In vivo rabbit models functionally evidence the seamless and dense reconstruction of torn meniscus, verifying that the concept of meniscus adhesive is feasible and providing a promising revolutionary strategy for preclinical research to repair meniscus tears.

Suture repair is the current clinical treatment for meniscus tears, but inaccessible tears in company with re-tears susceptibility remain unresolved. Here the authors address these issues by developing a meniscus adhesive-based strategy for the seamless and dense reconstruction of torn meniscus.