No abstract

In this study, the characteristics of silk fibroin films obtained from regenerated aqueous silk fibroin solution of various races were evaluated. Three races based on original sources of silkworms were selected: Nangnoi-Sisaket 1 (NN), Nakhon Ratchasima 1 (K1), and Nakhon Ratchasima 2 (K8). The Tg and Td of silk fibroin films were around 147-156°C and 277-279°C, respectively. FTIR result revealed that all silk fibroin films had beta sheet conformation. K1 and K8 films were found to be more hydrophilic than NN film. From in vitro tests using L929 mouse fibroblast and rat bone marrow-derived stem cells (rMSCs), the cell attachment was slightly greater on K1 film than the other two films. The enhanced cell growth on K1 film might be related to its slightly high hydrophilicity and the higher content of serine. The result of osteogenic differentiation test showed that alkaline phosphatase and deposited mineral of rMSCs were higher on all silk fibroin films than on tissue culture plate. K1 film tended to promote osteogenic differentiation of rMSCs to a higher extent than NN and K8 films. K1 silk fibroin film exhibited a higher potential to support cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation than other two films.

Alcohol additive is one of the stimulants that induces the fast gelation of silk fibroin solution. Based on our previous report, different alcohol types influence the gelation kinetic and the properties of resulting silk fibroin hydrogels. Here, the effects of alcohol concentrations on the silk fibroin gelation and cell response were reported. All fibroin hydrogels prepared with various alcohol additives showed cell biocompatibility, especially the fibroin hydrogel prepared with 10 wt % n‐butanol. Results on the mechanical properties of hydrogels, n‐butanol additive enhanced a higher compressive modulus up to ~ 22 times in comparison to non‐alcoholic fibroin hydrogel. Fourier transform infrared analysis and peak deconvolution showed a possible formation of more β‐turn linkage and random coil structure of fibroin segments in alcoholic fibroin hydrogel. So, the micro‐segmental structure of fibroin hydrogel caused the higher compressive modulus, prolonged deformation of the hydrogels, and efficient cell growth on the fibroin hydrogel. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48731.