Fibroin protein/chitosan scaffolds and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells culture in vitro

Abstract

ABSTRACT.A previous experiment demonstrated that fibroin protein and chitosan mixed in proper proportion presented good physical and chemical properties and biological characteristics, which can make up for their respective disadvantages. To observe the growth of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on these fibroin protein/ chitosan 3D scaffolds, induced rabbit BMSCs were seeded on fibroin protein/chitosan scaffolds. The cell adhesion rate was measured, and cell growth was observed under an inverted microscope and a scanning electron microscope. The cell adhesion rate increased with time. The inverted microscope observations showed that the cells on fibroin protein/chitosan scaffolds could not be seen clearly. As time passed, the number of cells around the stent increased and some cells stretched inside the scaffolds. Electron microscopy showed active cell growth and normal proliferation, and the granular and filamentous matrix substances could be seen around cells. The microfilaments of cell and scaffold materials were tightly connected. The cells not only grew on the surface of the adherent material, but also stretched inside of the materials. These results indicated that the fibroin protein/ chitosan mixed scaffolds have good biocompatibility.

<p>Osteochondral repair using scaffolds with gradient pore sizes constructed with silk fibroin, chitosan, and nano-hydroxyapatite</p>

“…In our previous study, we confirmed that bone scaffolds based on SF-CS 14 and SF-CS-nHA composites 15 with a single pore diameter were successfully prepared by vacuum freeze-drying and chemical cross-linking methods, the SF/CS scaffolds produced with a ratio of 1:1 of SF solution and CS solution, and SF-CS-nHA scaffolds produced with a ratio of 1:1:1 of SF solution, CS solution, and nHA suspension showed the best performance. After extensive investigations, SF-CS and SF-CS-nHA scaffolds were confirmed to have good histocompatibility with no cytotoxicity, 16,17 and they could better repair rabbit knee articular cartilage defects 14 and large-segmental radial bone defects. 18,19 Herein, inspired by the successful results of SF-CS-nHA scaffolds with a single pore diameter in the reparation of cartilage and bone defects, we combined the freeze-drying method with a centrifugation method to fabricate SF-CS-nHA scaffolds with gradient pore diameter.…”