Preparation and properties of nano-fiber, soft Bombyx mori silk protein scaffolds
Author of the article:NING Hong-Yan1** HAN Hong-Yan1 Lü Qiang2 XU Wei-An1***
Author's Workplace:1. School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China; 2. National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
Key Words:silk fibroin; soft tissue, stiffness, lyophilization, secondary structure
Abstract:
[Objectives] Regulating the nature of silk protein solution allows the control of the
mechanical and structural properties of silk protein scaffolds suitable for the
growth of endothelial cells, and solves the problem of engineering thick
complex organs and tissues that require functional vasculature. [Methods] To study the effect of different silk
protein scaffold properties nanofiber-assisted lyophilization was used to
restrain separate lamella formation in silk scaffolds. In addition, the structure of silk was controlled by adjusting
silk-water interactions, thereby obtaining different silk protein solutions,
and through preparing scaffolds by lyophilization. [Results] Increasing
silk-water interactions resulted in reduced silk II (β-sheet crystal)
formation, which resulted in a decrease in scaffold formation. [Conclusion] Scaffolds with a suitable stiffness and
porous structure for the growth of endothelial cells were obtained by
increasing the solution concentration. These also provided a promising
matrix for different soft tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.