Effects of silk fibroin scaffold sterilization upon the mechanical (A-B) and degradation (C) properties of the scaffold. (A) Stress-strain curve and (B) compressive modulus of sterilized silk fibroin scaffolds. Scaffolds were tested under compressive loading in physiological temperature and pH conditions (PBS, pH 7.4, 37°C). n≥16, **** p<0.0001, compared to non-sterilized sample. (C) Degradation of sterilized silk fibroin scaffolds in PBS or Protease XIV over an 8 day period at 37°C. Scaffold degradation is expressed at % remaining mass, where lower % remaining mass indicates more degradation. n=7, * p<0.5, **** p<0.0001, compared to non-sterilized samples.