Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF), a protein-based fiber extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons, has recently emerged with great potential for the biomedical field to be used as a biomaterial processable in a variety of formats and applications, due to its natural characteristics. The aims of the present study were to characterize the structural properties of the SF scaffolds, in the format of porous sponges, and to investigate their feasibility to support the adhesion of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells isolated from human Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord (WJ-MSC). Adhesion is a prerequisite for using the SF scaffold as biomaterial for supporting three-dimensional (3D) WJ-MSC cultures for several applications. The integration among micro-computed tomography, confocal analysis, and field emission scanning electron microscopy allowed carrying out a deep investigation based on quantitative morphological parameters and qualitative observations at high resolution. High levels of porosity, interconnection, and contact surface–volume ratio confirmed the appropriateness of the designed SF porous scaffolds as supports for cell cultures. WJ-MSC was demonstrated to be capable of adhering to and colonizing the SF scaffold applicable as a 3D cell culture system, of conducting in vitro experiments in a more controlled environment, and possibly of being used in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and applications in oncology.
Highlights
The regeneration of a three-dimensional (3D) tissue is favored by the use of scaffolds, 3D structures that support the cellular architecture.Biodegradable scaffolds play an important role in creating a 3D environment to induce tissue formation and, together with stem cell technologies, are believed to hold enormous potential for tissue regeneration
Silk fibroin (SF), a fibrous protein produced by silkworms Bombyx mori [2,3], thanks to its extraordinary mechanical, physical, biological, and biodegradable properties, gained great attention for biomedical applications, and it is considered a promising biomaterial [4,5] for bone tissue engineering [6] used to generate scaffolds in various formats such as hydrogels, spheres, capsules, films, and sponges [7,8,9,10,11]
Cell seeding is the first stage of cell attachment, and its efficiency and distribution can affect the final biological performance of the scaffold
Summary
The regeneration of a three-dimensional (3D) tissue is favored by the use of scaffolds, 3D structures that support the cellular architecture.Biodegradable scaffolds play an important role in creating a 3D environment to induce tissue formation and, together with stem cell technologies, are believed to hold enormous potential for tissue regeneration. Silk fibroin (SF), a fibrous protein produced by silkworms Bombyx mori [2,3], thanks to its extraordinary mechanical, physical, biological, and biodegradable properties, gained great attention for biomedical applications, and it is considered a promising biomaterial [4,5] for bone tissue engineering [6] used to generate scaffolds in various formats such as hydrogels, spheres, capsules, films, and sponges [7,8,9,10,11]. The design and the characteristics of the scaffolds are relevant for the achievement of their role, the interaction with tissues, and the final efficacy [12,13]. Various techniques and methodologies are often applied for a complete assessment before and after the interaction with tissues
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