biostudies-literatureUnknown10(20)Shibata MGelatine hydrogels exhibit potential as biomaterials such as wound-healing materials, artificial organs, scaffolds for cell culture and drug delivery systems because of their good biocompatibility. However, their practical applications are limited by their poor mechanical properties and high degradability. In this study, mechanically fibrillated silk fibroin (fibroin nanofibers; FNF) was used to reinforce gelatine hydrogels. The resulting gelatine hydrogels with FNF exhibited enhanced toughness compared to those reinforced with conventional aqueous regenerated fibroin (RF), which were prepared by treatment with a highly concentrated LiBr solvent or a neat gelatine hydrogel while retaining their softness. The average pore size of the gelatine hydrogel was 2.2 μm, while the gelatine hydrogelHeliyone39101https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11620089biostudies-literatureTough gelatine hydrogels reinforced with silk fibroin nanofiber.PMC11620089Okahisa YShibata MfalseTough gelatine hydrogels reinforced with silk fibroin nanofiber.Gelatine hydrogels exhibit potential as biomaterials such as wound-healing materials, artificial organs, scaffolds for cell culture and drug delivery systems because of their good biocompatibility. However, their practical applications are limited by their poor mechanical properties and high degradability. In this study, mechanically fibrillated silk fibroin (fibroin nanofibers; FNF) was used to reinforce gelatine hydrogels. The resulting gelatine hydrogels with FNF exhibited enhanced toughness compared to those reinforced with conventional aqueous regenerated fibroin (RF), which were prepared by treatment with a highly concentrated LiBr solvent or a neat gelatine hydrogel while retaining their softness. The average pore size of the gelatine hydrogel was 2.2 μm, while the gelatine hydrogel2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2025-04-04T00:47:01.171Z2025-04-04T00:47:01.171ZS-EPMC116200893964068410.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e39101