Development of a Porous Scaffold-Manufacturing Method by Blending Silk Fibroin and Agarose Polymer Solutions

Low-melting-temperature agarose gel solution, as a novel porogen was combined with a silk fibroin solution to generate interconnected porous networks. The porosity of the resultant silk fibroin-agarose scaffolds was greater than that of the scaffolds generated with agarose and deionized water. The porosities of silk fibroin scaffolds containing agarose gel at 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, 2.0% [w/v] were 110.9%, 111.7%, 120.9%, and 123.0%, respectively. Lastly, the internal space generated in scaffolds after dissolution of the agarose gel provides a good environment for cell growth and movement within the scaffold.