Silk fibroin/chitosan/heparin scaffold: preparation, antithrombogenicity and culture with hepatocytes

Abstract

AbstractAntithrombogenicity is very important for tissue engineering scaffolds used in situations involving contact with blood. A silk fibroin/chitosan (SFCS) scaffold has been developed for liver tissue engineering with porous structure, suitable mechanical properties and biocompatibility. Because the interaction between silk fibroin and blood coagulation factors can lead to blood coagulation, the anticoagulant property of the SFCS scaffold should be improved. Heparin was added into SFCS scaffold under mild conditions. The effects of heparin on the morphology, swelling properties, structure, porosity, mechanical properties, antithrombogenicity and cytocompatibility of the SFCS scaffold were studied. SFCS scaffold containing heparin maintains the porous structure and good mechanical properties of the fibroin‐based scaffold; moreover, it is not cytotoxic. Addition of heparin leads to the SFCS scaffold being blood‐compatible and an effective heparin‐delivering system. The anticoagulant property of the SFCS scaffold can be improved by the addition of heparin, which may be helpful for scaffolds used in situations involving contact with blood. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry