Silk-fibronectin protein alloy fibres support cell adhesion and viability as a high strength, matrix fibre analogue.

ABSTRACT: Silk is a natural polymer with broad utility in biomedical applications because it exhibits general biocompatibility and high tensile material properties. While mechanical integrity is important for most biomaterial applications, proper function and integration also requires biomaterial incorporation into complex surrounding tissues for many physiologically relevant processes such as wound healing. In this study, we spin silk fibroin into a protein alloy fibre with whole fibronectin using wet spinning approaches in order to synergize their respective strength and cell interaction capabilities. Results demonstrate that silk fibroin alone is a poor adhesive surface for fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells in the absence of serum. However, significantly improved ce

SUBMITTER: Jacobsen MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5381220 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature