Mammary epithelial cell adhesion, viability, and infiltration on blended or coated silk fibroin–collagen type I electrospun scaffolds

Abstract

Interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a crucial role in regulating biological tissue function. Silk biomaterials from Bombyx mori (B. mori) silkworm silk are widely used in tissue engineering. As this silk fibroin (SF) contains no strong adhesion sites, we assessed whether the blending or coating of SF with collagen would further improve SF biocompatibility, in part through the addition of the specific integrin recognition sequences. In the present study, electrospun scaffolds were developed by blending 7% SF and 7% type I collagen solutions at ratios of 100:0 (pure SF), 95:5, 90:10, and 85:15 (SF:collagen, v/v) prior to electrospinning. Pure SF scaffolds were further coated with collagen type I. The physical and mechanical properties of these scaffolds and MCF10A mammary epithelial cell adhesion, viability, and infiltration into these blended or coated SF–collagen (SF–C) scaffolds were determined. The blending of SF with collagen decreased average pore sizes and fiber diameters of the electrospun scaffolds regardless of the ratio (p<0.01). The mechanical strength of these scaffolds did not change in their hydrated state (ns), but was decreased for 85:15 SF–C blended scaffolds in the dry state (p<0.05). The adhesion of MCF10A cells was significantly increased in SF–C blended or coated scaffolds compared to pure SF scaffolds (p<0.01). MCF10A cell viability and infiltration on SF–C coated scaffolds were significantly higher compared to all other conditions tested (p<0.01).