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Antheraea assama Silk Fibroin‐Based Functional Scaffold with Enhanced Blood Compatibility for Tissue Engineering Applications
Author(s) -
Kasoju Naresh,
Bora Utpal
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
advanced engineering materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.938
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1527-2648
pISSN - 1438-1656
DOI - 10.1002/adem.200980055
Subject(s) - scaffold , fibroin , sulfation , materials science , tissue engineering , surface modification , nanotechnology , chemistry , biomedical engineering , silk , biochemistry , composite material , engineering
The architecture and surface chemistry of a scaffold determine its utility in tissue engineering (TE). Conventional techniques have limitations in fabricating a scaffold with control over both architecture and surface chemistry. To ameliorate this, in this report, we demonstrate the fabrication of an Antheraea assama silk fibroin (AASF)‐based functional scaffold. AASF is a non‐mulberry variety having superior qualities to mulberry SF and is largely unexplored in the context of TE. First, a 3D scaffold with biomimetic architecture is fabricated. The scaffold is subsequently made blood compatible by modifying the surface chemistry through a simple sulfation reaction. EDX and FTIR analysis demonstrate the successful sulfation of the scaffold. SEM observations reveal that sulfation has no any effect on the scaffold architecture. TGA reveals that it has increased thermal stability. The sulfation reaction significantly improves the overall hydrophilicity of the scaffold, as is evident from the increase in water holding capacity; this possibly enhances the blood compatibility. The enhancement in blood compatibility of the sulfated scaffold is determined from in vitro haemolysis, protein adsorption and platelet adhesion studies. The sulfated scaffold is non‐toxic and supports cell adhesion and growth, as revealed by indirect and direct contact‐based in vitro cytotoxicity assays. This study reveals that the AASF‐based functional scaffold, which has biomimetic architecture and blood‐compatible surface chemistry, could be suitable for TE applications.