Development of novel silk fibroin/polyvinyl alcohol/sol–gel bioactive glass composite matrix by modified layer by layer electrospinning method for bone tissue construct generation

Abstract

The worldwide occurrence of bone tissue related defects as well as diseases and lack of successful perpetual cure has attracted attention and accelerated exploration of composite scaffolding material with superior bioactivity, osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity properties. Among such biomaterials, silk fibroin and bioglass composite attained special emphasis to develop tissue engineered construct with a hierarchical structure ranging from nano to microscale thereby mimicking bone tissue extracellular matrix. In the present study, a bilayer deposition of natural biopolymer (silk fibroin) and synthetic polymer (polyvinyl alcohol) solution with 58s bioactive glass sol was done by free liquid surface electrospinning and further stabilized through ethanol washing to fabricate novel nanofibrous composite scaffold. The fabricated composite scaffold possesses superior stiffness, hydrophilicity, bioactivity and superior osteogenic potential. The scaffolds were characterized for its fiber diameter distribution, hydrophilicity, tensile strength and apatite forming ability. Field emission scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope analysis demonstrate the apatite like particle formation over the scaffold after treatment with simulated body fluid, which improved osteogenicity of the developed scaffold. The biocompatibility, biomineralization and osteogenic potential of composite scaffold were evaluated by cell culture study using cord blood derived mesenchymal stem cells, proving that the developed composite scaffold is biocompatible and possess excellent osteogenic potential for neo bone tissue regeneration. Thus, the developed nanobiocomposite scaffold has been proven to be potential for developing bone tissue grafts for future clinical applications.