Silk Biomaterials with Vascularization Capacity |
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| Authors: | Hongyan Han Hongyan Ning Shanshan Liu Qiang Lu Zhihai Fan Haijun Lu Guozhong Lu David L Kaplan |
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| Affiliation: | 1. National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China;2. School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China;3. National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China;4. Department of Orthopedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P. R. China;5. Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Wuxi, P. R. China;6. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, USA |
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| Abstract: | Functional vascularization is critical for the clinical regeneration of complex tissues such as kidney, liver, or bone. The immobilization or delivery of growth factors has been explored to improve vascularization capacity of tissue‐engineered constructs; however, the use of growth factors has inherent problems such as the loss of signaling capability and the risk of complications including immunological responses and cancer. Here, a new method of preparing water‐insoluble silk protein scaffolds with vascularization capacity using an all‐aqueous process is reported. Acid is added temporally to tune the self‐assembly of silk in the lyophilization process, resulting in water‐insoluble scaffold formation directly. These biomaterials are mainly noncrystalline, offering improved cell proliferation than previously reported silk materials. These systems also have an appropriate softer mechanical property that could provide physical cues to promote cell differentiation into endothelial cells, and enhance neovascularization and tissue ingrowth in vivo without the addition of growth factors. Therefore, silk‐based degradable scaffolds represent an exciting biomaterial option, with vascularization capacity for soft tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. |
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| Keywords: | lyophilization silk soft tissue engineering stiffness vascularization |
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