In vitro and in vivo characterization of silk fibroin/gelatin composite scaffolds for liver tissue engineering

OBJECTIVE:  To investigate the cytotoxicity of silk fibroin/gelatin (SF/G) composite scaffolds in vitro as well as their biocompatibility and degradation in vivo. METHODS:  The proliferation and relative growth rate of human hepatic QZG cells grown on different blends of two‐dimensional (2‐D) SF/G scaffolds were assessed using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptotic rate of QZG cells on different blends of 2‐D SF/G scaffolds. The effect of silk protein materials on cell growth was observed by scanning electron microscopy. Three‐dimensional (3‐D) SF/G scaffolds of three different ratios (diameter 10 mm, thickness 1 mm) were implanted into subcutaneous pockets on male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats. On the 7th, 14th and 30th day post‐implantation, the rats were sacrificed. The scaffold area including the surrounding tissues was retrieved. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for observation under a light microscope. RESULTS:  Significant cell attachment and proliferation on the SF/G scaffolds were observed. As the increased gelatin concentration, SF/G scaffolds became more amenable to cell adhesion. After the subcutaneous implantation of the SF/G scaffolds in SD rats, immunological rejection tests showed only slight inflammation, measured by the presence of inflamed cells on day 7 and 14. By day 30, each scaffold had been completely infiltrated and organized by fibroblasts and inflamed cells. The greater the gelatin concentration in the scaffold, the faster the degradation rate. CONCLUSION:  Composite SF/G scaffolds are a promising candidate matrix for implantable bio‐artificial livers.