Multi-channel silk sponge mimicking bone marrow vascular niche for platelet production.

ABSTRACT: In the bone marrow, the interaction of progenitor cells with the vasculature is fundamental for the release of blood cells into circulation. Silk fibroin, derived from Bombyx mori silkworm cocoons, is a promising protein biomaterial for bone marrow tissue engineering, because of its tunable architecture and mechanical properties, the capacity to incorporate labile compounds without loss of bioactivity and the demonstrated ability to support blood cell formation without premature activation. In this study, we fabricated a custom perfusion chamber to contain a multi-channel lyophilized silk sponge mimicking the vascular network in the bone marrow niche. The perfusion system consisted in an inlet and an outlet and 2 splitters that allowed funneling flow in each single channel of the silk spon

SUBMITTER: Tozzi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6082392 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature