Study of Collagen/Silk Nanofiber Scaffold for Hepatocyte Culture

Abstract

Collagen/silk nanofiber scaffold was prepared via electrospinning, and human hepatoma cell HepG2 had been cultured with it. The cell’s morphological change, viability and other functions were then investigated. Taking 1,1,1,3,3,3- hexafluoro-2-propanol(HFIP) as solvent, using electrospinning to prepare the collagen/silk nanofiber scaffold, and the mass ratio of collagen/silk fibroin as 100:0, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70, 0:100. The scaffold’photo of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the average diameter of fibers were range from 550nm to 1100nm. And fiber diameter was positively correlated with SF content. Cell culture results shows HepG2 cell grew well on the surface of materials and closely with the scaffold material. The conventional cultured cells gradually die after 5 days and loss the cell function, the collagen / silk nanofiber scaffold group cells can maintain a steady state in 4-9 days, and the urea synthesis and albumin secretion have significant differences with conventional culture group. The nanofiber scaffold with silk fibroin (SF) content of 50% has better cell state and cell function than other groups. Compared with the conventional culture group, HepG2 cell grows well on the collagen / silk nanofiber scaffold and maintain the functionexpression in longer time. The collagen/silk nanofiber scaffold can be expected use in bioartificial liver to improve liver bioreactor’s cell activity and maintain the cell function expression in longer time.