Silk Layer Research Articles

Natural Dyes in Embroideries of Byzantine Tradition, the Collection of Embroidered Aëres and Epitaphioi in the National Museum of Art of Romania

The medieval textiles collection of the National Museum of Art of Romania (MNAR) has been in place since 1865 and nowadays preserves about 1000 medieval and pre-modern weavings and embroideries. These extremely valuable objects, dated between the 14th and the 19th centuries, are mainly religious embroidered garments and veils with special significance in the Byzantine li-turgy. Ecclesiastical embroideries of Byzantine tradition are characterized by a complex technique: metallic threads with a silk core, metallic wires and coloured silk threads are couched over padding on layers of silk and cellulosic supports so as to create relief through light reflection. The silk sup-ports and the sewing threads are coloured, mainly in red, blue, green and yellow hues, and analytical investigations of the dyes used in embroideries preserved in the MNAR, in the Putna and Sucevița Monasteries, have been released in previous studies by the corresponding author. The present work continues the approach with research into dyes in about 25 aëres and epitaphioi from the MNAR collection. Considering their privileged function in the liturgical ritual, these luxurious pieces embroidered with silver, gilded silver or coloured silk threads and decorated with pearls, sequins or semi-precious stones are the most faithful description of the stylistic and technological evolution of the art of post-Byzantine embroidery in the Romanian provinces. The data resulting from the present research will improve the knowledge regarding this topic. Dye analysis was performed by liquid chromatography with diode array detection, while fibres were characterized by infrared spectroscopy (with attenuated total reflectance) and optical microscopy. The biological sources identified—carminic acid-based dyes, redwood, dyer’s broom, weld, indigo-based dyes––will be discussed in correspondence with their use in the embroidery technique: support, lining and embroidery threads, together with other sources previously reported on Byzantine embroideries in Romanian collections, and in similar objects preserved at Holy Mount Athos.

Effect of Methyl Violet to Mulberry Silkworm Some Breeds Eggs

To liquidate the larvae, the methyl violet (C24H28N3Cl), used against fungal diseases in fish farming, was used. The goal is to establish physiological responses in different phases of development after treating local and introduced mulberry silkworm breeds of with aqueous solutions of methyl violet. Exogenous exposure to eggs led to the formation of a negative reaction. It has been established that treatment of silkworm eggs with water and a 0.001% solution of methyl violet (from October 20 to November 15, 2018) reduces the weight of the silk layer of cocoons with statistical accuracy by 33.0% (−78.5 mg) and 22.5% (−49 .0 mg) respectively (p<0.001). A negative effect also occurs in other physiological indicators: there is a difference in the weight of caterpillars, cocoons and pupae, and a slight deviation occurs in the weight of caterpillars before cocooning in the aquatic version. The results of this research can be used in developing issues such as identifying more stable and promising mulberry silkworm breeds in the conditions of Azerbaijan, as a prerequisite for predicting the successful introduction of mulberry silkworm.

Bacteria inhabiting spider webs enhance host silk extensibility

Spider silk is a promising material with great potential in biomedical applications due to its incredible mechanical properties and resistance to degradation of commercially available bacterial strains. However, little is known about the bacterial communities that may inhabit spider webs and how these microorganisms interact with spider silk. In this study, we exposed two exopolysaccharide-secreting bacteria, isolated from webs of an orb spider, to major ampullate (MA) silk from host spiders. The naturally occurring lipid and glycoprotein surface layers of MA silk were experimentally removed to further probe the interaction between bacteria and silk. Extensibility of major ampullate silk produced by Triconephila clavata that was exposed to either Microbacterium sp. or Novosphigobium sp. was significantly higher than that of silk that was not exposed to bacteria (differed by 58.7%). This strain-enhancing effect was not observed when the lipid and glycoprotein surface layers of MA silks were removed. The presence of exopolysaccharides was detected through NMR from MA silks exposed to these two bacteria but not from those without exposure. Here we report for the first time that exopolysaccharide-secreting bacteria inhabiting spider webs can enhance extensibility of host MA silks and silk surface layers play a vital role in mediating such effects.

Enhancement of silk fabric knife-stabbing resistance for soft body armor

Traditional silk, known for its strength, flexibility, and comfort, shows promise as a lightweight, comfortable material for stab-resistant armor. This study explores enhancing silk’s knife-stabbing resistance for soft body armor through surface treatments. This study aims to augment the knife-stabbing resistance of silk fabric for soft body armor. Designed a falling tower setup to investigate fabric responses under impact. Exploring the addition of layers with coatings like silicon dioxide deposition, rice ash deposition, and aluminum oxide particles, the investigation revealed significant enhancements. A solitary silk layer exclusively coated with resin exhibited improvements of approximately 37.07%, 29.21%, and 13.47% in stab resistance for rice ash, aluminum oxide, and silicon oxide particles, respectively. The specific knife penetration depth indicated that the coating is more effective in diminishing penetration depth. The research identified that 7 layers of pure silk and 3 layers coated with rice ash satisfy National Institute of Justice Standard–0115.00, S1 as 26 layers of silk fabric, demonstrating a reduction without compromising protective efficacy.

Microscopic Projection Lithography for Integrating Metallic Microstructures on Silk Protein for Biodevice Applications.

Precise patterning of metallic micro/nanostructures enables application of silk protein in biomedical devices with a seamless human-machine interface. However, high-quality, expensive equipment and facilities involved in micro/nanofabrication hinder rapid prototyping for explorative laboratory-based research. Here, we report cost-effective and high-resolution light-emitting diode-based projection lithography methods for fabricating a Cr photomask and metallic microstructures on a silk protein layer. After two-step photolithography performed using a commercial camera and microscopic objective lens, inkjet-printed patterns are successfully projected on the silk layers with 100× and 500× demagnification ratios. A lift-off process is conducted to integrate Au patterns on the lithographic-patterned resist/silk layer, and various Au microstructures with sizes <2 μm are generated. In all the processes, the silk protein exhibits a high resistance to chemicals for resist solvent, development, resist strip, and lift-off, as well as a strong adhesion to gold, along with low cytotoxicity. Dopamine sensing and transistor operating capabilities are proved by measuring the changes in the electrical signals through the Au patterns. The proposed method is a cost-effective and simple approach for rapid prototyping of silk-based biomedical devices.

Large Male Caterpillars Are the Primary Builders: Exploring Tent Construction and Foraging Behaviour in Gregarious Pine Processionary Caterpillar.

As a social organism, living in a communal structure is one of the most important physical barriers against environmental elements and natural enemies. Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Notodontidae, Thaumetopoeinae) caterpillars are conifer pests that spend most of their larval stage in winter. Although T. pityocampa holds economic and medical significance, the tent construction and foraging behaviour are poorly understood. We observed the tent construction behaviour in autumn (October and November) when third- and fourth-instar T. pityocampa caterpillars build the 'winter tent' that can withstand winter conditions. Just before sunset, with no rain and temperatures over 12 °C, tent construction was undertaken by early active individuals, primarily larger male caterpillars. Early active caterpillars emerge from the tent first and spin silk on the tent for expansion and strength. Once temperatures dropped below 12 °C and twilight had passed, the early active caterpillars went out to forage and were later joined by the late active caterpillars, which were predominantly smaller females that had remained inside the tent. Foraging behaviour was continuously monitored for the first to fourth larval instars in the field. Foraging was more frequent in younger instars when environmental temperatures were warmer and became continuous and prolonged in later instar caterpillars as temperatures dropped. The final tent structure built by later instar caterpillars had the thickest layer of silk on the southern side of the tent compared to other orientations to receive maximum solar radiation during the winter. Our study provided additional insights into the collective nest building, foraging and social behaviours observed in Lepidoptera, as well as the roles of individuals within non-eusocial insect colonies.

Bimodal Gating Mechanism in Hybrid Thin-Film Transistors Based on Dynamically Reconfigurable Nanoscale Biopolymer Interfaces.

In recent years, increased control over naturally-derived structural protein formulations and their self-assembly has enabled the application of high-resolution manufacturing techniques to silk-based materials, leading to bioactive interfaces with unprecedented miniaturized formats and functionalities. We present here a hybrid biopolymer-semiconductor device obtained by integrating nanoscale silk layers in a well-established class of inorganic field-effect transistors (silk-FETs). The devices offer two distinct modes of operation - either traditional field-effect or electrolyte-gated - enabled by the precisely controlled thickness, morphology and biochemistry of the integrated silk layers. The different operational modes are selectively accessed by dynamically modulating the free-water content within the nanoscale protein layer from the vapor phase. The utility of these hybrid devices is illustrated in a highly sensitive and ultrafast breath sensor, highlighting the opportunities offered by the integration of nanoscale biomaterial interfaces in conjunction with traditional semiconductor devices, enabling functional outcomes at the intersection between the worlds of microelectronics and biology. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

High-strength, self-reinforcing and recyclable multifunctional lignin-based polyurethanes based on multi-level dynamic cross-linking

The preparation of lignin-based polyurethanes with excellent mechanical properties and recyclability remains extremely challenging because of the poor compatibility of lignin and matrix. Inspired by the multiple structures of spider silk and pearl layers, high-strength, heat-resistant and recyclable lignin-based polyurethanes (LPUs) were prepared by introducing weak hydrogen bonds, strong hydrogen bonds and dynamic silyl ether covalent bonds. Multiple hydrogen bonds provided a large energy dissipation mechanism. The covalent linkage between lignin and matrix promoted their compatibility and formed a robust cross-linking network. Depending on the multi-level dynamic interactions, the prepared elastomer exhibited a mechanical strength of 73 MPa, which was 1.9 times higher than that of the blank sample, with an initial thermal decomposition temperature of 310.5 °C and a good recyclability. Especially, the mechanical strength of LPUs was up to 99 MPa after mechanical training. In addition, the abundant conjugated structure of lignin endowed LPUs with an excellent photothermal conversion ability. Under the irradiation of NIR light with 4000 w m−2, the surface temperature increased to 95 °C within two minutes, exhibiting a stable photothermal performance even after 6 cycles. This work showed the application prospects of LPUs in the fields of high strength engineering materials and photo-induced actuators.

A biomaterial-silicon junction for photodetection.

Bio-integrated optoelectronics can be interfaced with biological tissues, thereby offering opportunities for clinical diagnosis and therapy. However, finding a suitable biomaterial-based semiconductor to interface with electronics is still challenging. In this study, a semiconducting layer is assembled comprising a silk protein hydrogel and melanin nanoparticles (NPs). The silk protein hydrogel provides a water-rich environment for the melanin NPs that maximizes their ionic conductivity and bio-friendliness. An efficient photodetector is produced by forming a junction between melanin NP-silk and a p-type Si (p-Si) semiconductor. The observed charge accumulation/transport behavior at the melanin NP-silk/p-Si junction is associated with the ionic conductive state of the melanin NP-silk composite. The melanin NP-silk semiconducting layer is printed as an array on an Si substrate. The photodetector array exhibits uniform photo-response to illumination at various wavelengths, thus providing broadband photodetection. Efficient charge transfer between melanin NP-silk and Si provides fast photo-switching with rise and decay constants of 0.44​s and 0.19​s, respectively. The photodetector with a biotic interface comprising an Ag nanowire-incorporated silk layer as the top contact can operate when underneath biological tissue. The photo-responsive biomaterial-Si semiconductor junction using light as a stimulus offers a bio-friendly and versatile platform for artificial electronic skin/tissue.

Controlled Release of H2S from Biomimetic Silk Fibroin-PLGA Multilayer Electrospun Scaffolds.

The possibility of incorporating H2S slow-release donors inside biomimetic scaffolds can pave the way to new approaches in the field of tissue regeneration and anti-inflammatory treatment. In the present work, GYY4137, an easy-to-handle commercially available Lawesson's reagent derivative, has been successfully incorporated inside biomimetic silk fibroin-based electrospun scaffolds. Due to the instability of GYY4137 in the solvent needed to prepare silk fibroin solutions (formic acid), the electrospinning of the donor together with the silk fibroin turned out to be impossible. Therefore, a multilayer structure was realized, consisting of a PLGA mat containing GYY4137 sandwiched between two silk fibroin nanofibrous layers. Before their use in the multilayer scaffold, the silk fibroin mats were treated in ethanol to induce crystalline phase formation, which conferred water-resistance and biomimetic properties. The morphological, thermal, and chemical properties of the obtained scaffolds were thoroughly characterized by SEM, TGA, DSC, FTIR, and WAXD. Multilayer devices showing two different concentrations of the H2S donor, i.e., 2 and 5% w/w with respect to the weight of PLGA, were analyzed to study their H2S release and biological properties, and the results were compared with those of the sample not containing GYY4137. The H2S release analysis was carried out according to an "ad-hoc" designed procedure based on a validated high-performance liquid chromatography method. The proposed analytical approach demonstrated the slow-release kinetics of H2S from the multilayer scaffolds and its tunability by acting on the donor's concentration inside the PLGA nanofibers. Finally, the devices were tested in biological assays using bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells showing the capacity to support cell spreading throughout the scaffold and prevent cytotoxicity effects in serum starvation conditions. The resulting devices can be exploited for applications in the tissue engineering field since they combine the advantages of controlled H2S release kinetics and the biomimetic properties of silk fibroin nanofibers.

Filtering Efficiency of Sustainable Textile Materials Applied in Personal Protective Face Mask Production during Pandemic.

The COVID-19 outbreak increased demand for personal protective respirator masks. Textile masks based on cloth materials appeared to be a sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective alternative available in global communities. In this study, we used laser-based particle counting for mask material qualification to determine the concentration filtering efficiency in general, everyday community use. The efficiencies of eleven different commercially available textile materials were measured in single-, double-, and triple-layer configurations according to their grammage, mesh (XY), and inter-yarn gap. It was found that in the single-layer configurations, most materials were well below the acceptable standards, with a wide variation in filtering efficiency, which ranged from 5% to ~50%. However, when testing the fabrics in two or three layers, the efficiency increased significantly, exceeding or approaching the standard for medical masks. Three layers of natural silk was able to produce a level of filtration efficiency of 84.68%. Two-layered natural silk achieved 70.98%, cotton twill achieved 75.6%, and satin-weave viscose achieved 69.77%. Further options can also be considered in cases where lower filtration is acceptable It was statistically shown that applying a second layer was more significant in terms of overall filtering than increasing the layer count to three. However, layer stacking limited the breathability. The paper presents measurement-based qualitative and quantitative recommendations for future textile applications in face mask manufacturing.

Preparation of Antibacterial Cellulose Fabric via Copper (II) Oxide and Corn Silk (Stigma maydis) Nanocomposite

AbstractConcerning the increasing demand for antibacterial nature‐based textiles, this work deals with the modification of cotton fabric with corn silk as a natural polymer together with the in situ synthesis of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles. Copper acetate is used as a precursor of copper (II) oxide and ascorbic acid as an environmentally friendly reducing agent. The copper (II) oxide/corn silk nanocomposite cotton fabrics are evaluated by FESEM, XRD, FTIR, water absorption, and antibacterial analysis. The treated fabrics exhibit higher water absorption and FESEM images along with EDX spectra confirm the formation of copper (II) oxide nanoparticles and corn silk layer on the fabric surface. FTIR analysis also establishes effective assembling of CuO/corn silk on the cotton surface. Moreover, the antimicrobial efficiency of the nanocomposite is verified to be higher than 90% against Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive model bacteria comprising Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and antifungal properties against Candida albican. Consequently, the fabrication of copper (II) oxide/corn silk nanocomposites on the cotton fabric could be potentially applied for the preparation of antibacterial medical textiles.

Scalable batch fabrication of ultrathin flexible neural probes using a bioresorbable silk layer

Flexible intracerebral probes for neural recording and electrical stimulation have been the focus of many research works to achieve better compliance with the surrounding tissue while minimizing rejection. Strategies have been explored to find the best way to insert flexible probes into the brain while maintaining their flexibility once positioned. Here, we present a novel and versatile scalable batch fabrication approach to deliver ultrathin and flexible probes consisting of a silk-parylene bilayer. The biodegradable silk layer, whose degradation time is programmable, provides a temporary and programmable stiffener to allow the insertion of ultrathin parylene-based flexible devices. Our innovative and robust batch fabrication technology allows complete freedom over probe design in terms of materials, size, shape, and thickness. We demonstrate successful ex vivo insertion of the probe with acute high-fidelity recordings of epileptic seizures in field potentials as well as single-unit action potentials in mouse brain slices. Our novel technological solution for implanting ultraflexible devices in the brain while minimizing rejection risks shows high potential for use in both brain research and clinical therapies.

Direct functionalization of natural silks through continuous force-reeling technique

Compared with synthetic polymer fibers, animal silks have apparent advantages of sustainability, mechanical properties, and air and humidity permeability. However, the functionalization of animal silk at a single fiber scale is not yet fully developed. Herein, a low-cost, effective, and scalable strategy was developed to functionalize the native silk by combining continuous force-reeling and dip-coating techniques. With this approach, conductive and color-programmable silk with extremely long length (larger than one kilometer), high mechanical performance (with a strength of 516 ± 66 MPa, toughness of 114 ± 25 MJ m−3, comparable to spider dragline silk), and good interface bonding between silk and functional layer were developed. These functionalized silks were directly used as a highly sensitive mechanical sensor in extreme environments, such as in liquid nitrogen and water. In addition, these fibers were automatically woven into large-scale washable dynamic coloring and luminous fabrics. These intelligent fabrics exhibit rapid, programmable, and recyclable thermochromic and electroluminescent responses, showing promising applications in dynamical textile displays.

The Role of Filippi's Glands in the Silk Moths Cocoon Construction.

Filippi’s glands (FGs), formerly also called Lyonet’s glands, are accessory secretory structures of the labial (silk) glands of lepidopteran caterpillars, which were implicated to play an important role in the maturation of the silk material and the construction of the cocoon. In our previous study, we have identified several species of giant silk moths that completely lack the FGs. Interestingly, the absence of FGs in these species correlates with the construction of a loose cocoon architecture. We investigated the functions of FGs by their surgical extirpation in the last instar larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We found that the absence of FGs altered the structure of the resulting cocoon, in which the different layers of silk were separated. In further experiments, we found no effects of the absence of FGs on larval cocoon formation behavior or on changes in cocoon mass or lipid content. Differential proteomic analysis revealed no significant contribution of structural proteins from FGs to silk cocoon material, but we identified several low abundance proteins that may play a role in posttranslational modifications of some silk proteins. Proteomic analysis also revealed a difference in phosphorylation of the N-terminal sequence of fibroin-heavy chain molecule. Thus, FGs appear to affect silk stickiness during spinning by regulating posttranslational modifications. This could also explain the link that exists between the absence of these glands and the formation of loose cocoons in some giant silk moth species.

Sericin and sericin-derived peptide alleviate viral pathogenesis in mice though inhibiting lactate production and facilitating antiviral response

Sericin, a bioactive protein forming the outer layer of silk, promotes cell proliferation and cell adhesion, inhibits inflammation, and provides nutrition. Here, we obtain endotoxin-free sericin and explore its potential property in antiviral activity towards infectious diseases. In vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection model, pre-treatment with sericin obviously inhibits VSV replication and reduces organ injury in infected mice. Further studies reveal that pre-incubating cells with sericin results in suppressing the infections of VSV and Enterovirus 71 (EV71) in infected cells. More evidences show that upon virus infection, the levels of interferons (IFNs) are significantly elevated in the cells pre-incubated with sericin as compared to untreated cells, indicating that sericin promotes virus-induced antiviral immune responses. Mechanistically, sericin attenuates cell glycolysis rate and reduces lactate production. Low level of lactate benefitting from sericin treatment facilitates the RIG-I-MAVS signaling pathway to initiate interferon activation. Notably, like sericin, a sericin-derived peptide F5-SP shares the same functions to exert antiviral activity both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, we report that sericin and sericin-derived peptide F5-SP enhance antiviral innate immune response through inhibiting lactate production, which discovers a promising biomedical application of sericin in the prevention and treatment of viral infectious diseases.

Silk-based bilayered small diameter woven vascular conduits for improved mechanical and cellular characteristics

A major impediment to the development of small diameter vascular grafts is to achieve an optimal balance between its mechanical properties and cellular response. To address this, the technique of cylindrical weaving has been combined with electrospinning to fabricate a seamless bilayered conduit (∼3 mm) having an inner cell-friendly nanofibrous layer of poly(caprolactone)/collagen and an outer mechanically compliant woven silk layer. Mechanical characteristics such as burst strength, suture retention, compliance and leak resistance were found to be improved for this bilayered conduit when compared to the commercial standard. In-vitro studies revealed that the lumen of the conduit was non-hemolytic and could support adhesion and viability of endothelial cells. Overall, our studies suggest that the proposed bilayer construct could be a suitable candidate for small diameter vascular prosthesis.

Preparation of Multifunctional Silk-Based Microcapsules loaded with DNA Plasmids Encoding RNA Aptamers and Riboswitches.

We introduce a protocol for the preparation of DNA-laden silk fibroin microcapsules via the Layer-by-Layer (LbL) assembly method on sacrificial spherical cores. Following adsorption of a prime layer and DNA plasmids, the formation of robust microcapsules was facilitated by inducing β-sheets in silk secondary structure during acute dehydration of a single silk layer. Hence, the layering occurred via multiple hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. Upon adsorption of multilayered shells, the core-shell structures can be further functionalized with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and/or antibodies (IgG) to be used for remote sensing and/or targeted delivery. Adjusting several key parameters during sequential deposition of key macromolecules on silica cores such as the presence of a polymer primer, the concentration of DNA and silk protein, as well as a number of adsorbed layers resulted in biocompatible, DNA-laden microcapsules with variable permeability and DNA loadings. Upon dissolution of silica cores, the protocol demonstrated the formation of hollow and robust microcapsules with DNA plasmids immobilized to the inner surface of the capsule membrane. Creating a selectively permeable biocompatible membrane between the DNA plasmids and the external environment preserved the DNA during long-term storage and played an important role in the improved output response from spatially confined plasmids. The activity of DNA templates and their accessibility were tested during in vitro transcription and translation reactions (cell-free systems). DNA plasmids encoding RNA light-up aptamers and riboswitches were successfully activated with corresponding analytes, as was visualized during localization of fluorescently labeled RNA transcripts or GFPa1 protein in the shell membranes.

Co-delivery of inhalable therapies: Controlling active ingredients spatial distribution and temporal release

The management of respiratory diseases relies on the daily administration of multiple active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), leading to a lack of patient compliance and impaired quality of life. The frequency and dosage of the APIs result in increased side effects that further worsens the overall patient condition. Here, the manufacture of polymer-polymer core-shell microparticles for the sequential delivery of multiple APIs by inhalation delivery is reported. The microparticles, composed of biodegradable polymers silk fibroin (shell) and poly(L-lactic acid) (core), incorporating ciprofloxacin in the silk layer and ibuprofen (PLLA core) as the antibiotic and anti-inflammatory model APIs, respectively. The polymer-polymer core-shell structure and the spatial distribution of the APIs have been characterized using cutting-edge synchrotron macro ATR-FTIR technique, which was correlated with the respective API sequential release profiles. The APIs microparticles had a suitable size and aerosol properties for inhalation therapies (≤4.94 ± 0.21μm), with low cytotoxicity and immunogenicity in healthy lung epithelial cells. The APIs compartmentalization obtained by the microparticles not only could inhibit potential actives interactions but can provide modulation of the APIs release profiles via an inhalable single administration.

Characterization of Bone Marrow and Wharton's Jelly Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Response on Multilayer Braided Silk and Silk/PLCL Scaffolds for Ligament Tissue Engineering.

(1) Background: A suitable scaffold with adapted mechanical and biological properties for ligament tissue engineering is still missing. (2) Methods: Different scaffold configurations were characterized in terms of morphology and a mechanical response, and their interactions with two types of stem cells (Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stromal cells (WJ-MSCs) and bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs)) were assessed. The scaffold configurations consisted of multilayer braids with various number of silk layers (n = 1, 2, 3), and a novel composite scaffold made of a layer of copoly(lactic acid-co-(e-caprolactone)) (PLCL) embedded between two layers of silk. (3) Results: The insertion of a PLCL layer resulted in a higher porosity and better mechanical behavior compared with pure silk scaffold. The metabolic activities of both WJ-MSCs and BM-MSCs increased from day 1 to day 7 except for the three-layer silk scaffold (S3), probably due to its lower porosity. Collagen I (Col I), collagen III (Col III) and tenascin-c (TNC) were expressed by both MSCs on all scaffolds, and expression of Col I was higher than Col III and TNC. (4) Conclusions: the silk/PLCL composite scaffolds constituted the most suitable tested configuration to support MSCs migration, proliferation and tissue synthesis towards ligament tissue engineering.