Electrospun scaffolds of silk fibroin and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) for endothelial cell growth

J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2015 Jan;26(1):5386. doi: 10.1007/s10856-015-5386-6. Epub 2015 Jan 20.

Abstract

Electrospun scaffolds of silk fibroin (SF) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) were prepared to mimic the morphology and chemistry of the extracellular matrix. The SF/PLGA scaffolds were treated with ethanol to improve their usability. After ethanol treatment the scaffolds exhibited a smooth surface and uniform fibers. SF transformed from random coil conformation to β-sheet structure after ethanol treatment, so that the SF/PLGA scaffolds showed low hydrophilicity and dissolving rate in water. The mechanical properties and the hydrophilicity of the blended fibrous scaffolds were affected by the weight ratio of SF and PLGA. During degradation of ethanol-treated SF/PLGA scaffolds in vitro, the fibers became thin along with the degradation time. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were seeded onto the ethanol-treated nanofibrous scaffolds for cell viability, attachment and morphogenesis studies. These SF/PLGA scaffolds could enhance the viability, spreading and attachment of HUVECs. Based on these results, these ethanol-treated scaffolds are proposed to be a good candidate for endothelial cell growth.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology*
  • Ethanol / chemistry
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Fibroins / chemistry*
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry*
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Porosity
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Surface Properties
  • Tissue Engineering / methods
  • Tissue Scaffolds*
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Water
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • Ethanol
  • Fibroins