Methods and compositions for treating tissue using silk proteins

A composition comprising:

• a first component of a synthetic polymer system comprising a first functionalized polymer with at least two nucleophilic groups;
• a second component of a synthetic polymer system comprising a second functionalized polymer with at least two electrophilic groups;
• an aqueous solution of a silk protein and/or a block copolymer thereof;
• a biologic encapsulated, suspended, disposed within or loaded into a biodegradable carrier, wherein the biodegradable carrier comprises a polymeric microparticle, and
• wherein a) the first functionalized polymer and the second functionalized polymer are combined in a 1:1 ratio or less, b) a combined functionality of the synthetic polymer system is greater than four, c) the amount of silk protein or the block copolymer thereof is from 10 mass percent to 50 mass percent of the combined synthetic polymer system, and d) the first component, the second component, the aqueous solution of a silk protein and/or a block copolymer thereof and the biologic encapsulated, suspended, disposed within or loaded into the biodegradable carrier to form a self-reinforcing composite matrix in vivo.