Bioactive macro/micro porous silk fibroin/nano-sized calcium phosphate scaffolds with potential for bone-tissue-engineering applications. (March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yan, Le-Ping; Silva-Correia, Joana; Correia, Cristina; Caridade, Sofia G; Fernandes, Emanuel M; Sousa, Rui A; Mano, João F; Oliveira, Joaquim M; Oliveira, Ana L; Reis, Rui L
• Is Part Of: Nanomedicine. Volume 8:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 359
• Page End: 378
• Publication Date: 2013-03
• Subjects: bone tissue engineering -- nano-sized calcium phosphate -- nanocomposite -- porous scaffold -- silk fibroin; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Therapeutic use -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.2217/nnm.12.118
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-5889

Abstract

Aim: The development of novel silk/nano-sized calcium phosphate (silk/nano-CaP) scaffolds with highly dispersed CaP nanoparticles in the silk fibroin (SF) matrix for bone tissue engineering.Materials & methods: Nano-CaP was incorporated in a concentrated aqueous SF solution (16 wt.%) by using an in situ synthesis method. The silk/nano-CaP scaffolds were then prepared through a combination of salt-leaching/lyophilization approaches.Results: The CaP particles presented good affinity to SF and their size was inferior to 200 nm when theoretical CaP/silk ratios were between 4 and 16 wt.%, as determined by scanning electron microscopy. The CaP particles displayed a uniform distribution in the scaffolds at both microscopic and macroscopic scales as observed by backscattered scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography, respectively. The prepared scaffolds presented self-mineralization capability and no cytotoxicity confirmed by in vitro bioactivity tests and cell viability assays, respectively.Conclusion: These results indicated that the produced silk/nano-CaP scaffolds could be suitable candidates for bone-tissue-engineering applications. Original submitted 21 December 2011; Revised submitted 10 July 2012; Published online 24 December 2012