Fabrication and characterization of regenerated silk scaffolds reinforced with natural silk fibers for bone tissue engineering

Abstract

We introduce a novel Bombyx mori silk-based composite material developed for bone tissue engineering. Three-dimensional scaffolds were fabricated by embedding of natural degummed silk fibers in a matrix of regenerated fibroin, followed by freeze-drying. Different ratios of fibers to fibroin were investigated with respect to their influence on mechanical and biological properties. For all scaffold types, an interconnected porous structure suitable for cell penetration was proven by scanning electron microscopy. Compressive tests, carried out in static and cyclic mode under dry as well as wet conditions, revealed a strong impact of fiber reinforcement on compressive modulus and compressive stress. Cell culture experiments with human mesenchymal stem cells demonstrated that the fiber/fibroin composite scaffolds support cell attachment, proliferation, as well as differentiation along the osteoblastic lineage. Considering the excellent mechanical and biological properties, novel fiber/fibroin scaffolds appear to be an interesting structure for prospect studies in bone tissue engineering.

Calcium sulfate bone cements with nanoscaled silk fibroin as inducer

“…SF shows peaks of amideI at 1650–1630 cm −1 and amideII at 1540–1520 cm −1 . The characteristic peak of composites was weaker than control group as the Figure (C) shown, which indicated the coordination between calcium ion (Ca 2+ ) and carboxyl.…”

Mineralization and bone regeneration using a bioactive elastin-like recombinamer membrane

“…Despite a number of well-known negative consequences, autogenous cancelous bone continues to be the preferred bone graft option and a major target to replace [1]. Scaffolds based on collagen [2], hyaluronic acid [3], chitosan [4], biological composites [5], and self-assembling materials [6] have been and continue to be investigated as three-dimensional bone graft alternatives.…”

Safety Evaluation of a Bioglass–Polylactic Acid Composite Scaffold Seeded with Progenitor Cells in a Rat Skull Critical-Size Bone Defect

“…Bone is a dynamic, tightly vascularized tissue with an anrivaled capacity for regeneration [1]. But if the defect exceeds a critical size, endogenous rengeneration processes fail to bridge the gap [1]–[3]. At present, such critical size bone defects are best treated using autologous bone grafts harvested from the patient's own iliac crest.…”