Silk Fibroin Particles as Carriers in the Development of All-Natural Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers (HBOCs)

Pacheco, Marisa O.; Lutz, Henry M; Armada, Jostin; Davies, Nickolas; Gerzenshtein, Isabelle K; Cakley, Alaura S.; Spiess, Bruce D.; Stoppel, Whitney L.

doi:10.1101/2023.03.01.530637

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Although our batch-to-batch variability is relatively low, the spread in molecular weight leads to variability in polymer chain length within our polymer solutions. 37 Thus, reducing the stringency of the p value to include samples that are different with 90% confidence is worthwhile in the discussion of these samples.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The main cause of variability results from the natural source of the material as the Bombyx mori silkworm is commonly cultivated outdoors, where known changes in climate (temperature, humidity) may be impacting the silk production and viability of the silkworm. Although our batch‐to‐batch variability is relatively low, the spread in molecular weight leads to variability in polymer chain length within our polymer solutions 37 . Thus, reducing the stringency of the p value to include samples that are different with 90% confidence is worthwhile in the discussion of these samples.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of crystalline domains on long‐term stability and mechanical performance of anisotropic silk fibroin sponges

Aikman,

Rao,

Jia

et al. 2024

J Biomedical Materials Res

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Sponge‐like materials made from regenerated silk fibroin biopolymers are a tunable and advantageous platform for in vitro engineered tissue culture and in vivo tissue regeneration. Anisotropic, three‐dimensional (3D) silk fibroin sponge‐like scaffolds can mimic the architecture of contractile muscle. Herein, we use silk fibroin solution isolated from the cocoons of Bombyx mori silkworms to form aligned sponges via directional ice templating in a custom mold with a slurry of dry ice and ethanol. Hydrated tensile mechanical properties of these aligned sponges were evaluated as a function of silk polymer concentration (3% or 5%), freezing time (50% or 100% ethanol), and post‐lyophilization method for inducing crystallinity (autoclaving, water annealing). Hydrated static tensile tests were used to determine Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength across sponge formulations at two strain rates to evaluate rate dependence in the calculated parameters. Results aligned with previous reports in the literature for isotropic silk fibroin sponge‐like scaffolds, where the method by which beta‐sheets were formed and level of beta‐sheet content (crystallinity) had the greatest impact on static parameters, while polymer concentration and freezing rate did not significantly impact static mechanical properties. We estimated the crystalline organization using molecular dynamics simulations to show that larger crystalline regions may be responsible for strength at low strain amplitudes and brittleness at high strain amplitudes in the autoclaved sponges. Within the parameters evaluated, extensional Young's modulus is tunable in the range of 600–2800 kPa. Dynamic tensile testing revealed the linear viscoelastic region to be between 0% and 10% strain amplitude and 0.2–2 Hz frequencies. Long‐term stability was evaluated by hysteresis and fatigue tests. Fatigue tests showed minimal change in the storage and loss modulus of 5% silk fibroin sponges for more than 6000 min of continuous mechanical stimulation in the linear regime at 10% strain amplitude and 1 Hz frequency. Furthermore, we confirmed that these mechanical properties hold when decellularized extracellular matrix is added to the sponges and when the mechanical property assessments were performed in cell culture media. We also used nano‐computed tomography (nano‐CT) and simulations to explore pore interconnectivity and tortuosity. Overall, these results highlight the potential of anisotropic, sponge‐like silk fibroin scaffolds for long‐term (>6 weeks) contractile muscle culture with an in vitro bioreactor system that provides routine mechanical stimulation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of crystalline domains on long‐term stability and mechanical performance of anisotropic silk fibroin sponges

Aikman,

Rao,

Jia

et al. 2024

J Biomedical Materials Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Comparative Evaluation of UV-Vis Spectroscopy-Based Approaches for Hemoglobin Quantification: Method Selection and Practical Insights

Coll-Satue,

Jansman,

Hosta-Rigau

2024

Biomolecules

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The growing demand for effective alternatives to red blood cells (RBCs) has spurred significant research into hemoglobin (Hb)-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs). Accurate characterization of HBOCs—including Hb content, encapsulation efficiency, and yield—is crucial for ensuring effective oxygen delivery, economic viability, and the prevention of adverse effects caused by free Hb. However, the choice of quantification methods for HBOCs is often driven more by tradition than by a thorough assessment of available options. This study meticulously compares various UV-vis spectroscopy-based methods for Hb quantification, focusing on their efficacy in measuring Hb extracted from bovine RBCs across different concentration levels. The findings identify the sodium lauryl sulfate Hb method as the preferred choice due to its specificity, ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and safety, particularly when compared to cyanmethemoglobin-based methods. Additionally, the study discusses the suitability of these methods for HBOC characterization, emphasizing the importance of considering carrier components and potential interferences by analyzing the absorbance spectrum before selecting a method. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the selection of accurate and reliable Hb quantification methods, which are essential for rigorous HBOC characterization and advancements in medical research.

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Silk Fibroin Particles as Carriers in the Development of All-Natural Hemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers (HBOCs)

Cited by 2 publications

References 67 publications

Impact of crystalline domains on long‐term stability and mechanical performance of anisotropic silk fibroin sponges

Impact of crystalline domains on long‐term stability and mechanical performance of anisotropic silk fibroin sponges

Comparative Evaluation of UV-Vis Spectroscopy-Based Approaches for Hemoglobin Quantification: Method Selection and Practical Insights

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