Silk sericin/poly (NIPAM/LMSH) nanocomposite hydrogels: Rapid thermo-responsibility and good carrier for cell proliferation

Abstract

AbstractTo overcome the fragility of chemical cross-linked hydrogel and improve the cell compatibility of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel, physical cross-linker lithium magnesium silicate hydrate (LMSH) and silk sericin (SS) created by Bombyx mori (silkworms) were adopted as physical cross-linker and biocompatible monomer to prepare SS/poly(NIPAM/LMSH) nanocomposite hydrogels. The temperature sensitivity and cytocompatibility like mouse fibroblasts (L929) cell proliferation and desorption were investigated. Depending on SS content, the resultant nanocomposite hydrogels present bigger volume and rapid thermo-responsibility. The volume-phase transmittance temperature (VPTT) of SS/poly(NIPAM/LMSH) nanocomposite hydrogels increases from 32.12 to 33.34 °C with the introduction of SS content. Compared to pure poly(NIPAM/LMSH) nanocomposite hydrogel, MTT and SEM graphs have proved that the incorporation of SS could accelerate cell adhesion, spreading and detachment of L929 cells on the surface of SS/poly(NIPAM/LMSH) nanocomposite hydrogels. On culturing 5d, L929 cells have covered the whole surface of SS/poly(NIPAM/LMSH) nanocomposite hydrogels. By reducing temperature from 37 to 15 °C, L929 cells on the surface of SS/poly(NIPAM/LMSH) nanocomposite hydrogels detach spontaneously and harvested L929 cells still keep better cell activity than that via enzymatic digestion.