Water-annealing regulated protein-based magnetic nanofiber materials: tuning silk structure and properties to enhance cell response under magnetic fields. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xue, Y.; Jackson, K.; Page, N.; Mou, X.; Lofland, S.; Hu, X.
• Is Part Of: Materials today chemistry. Volume 22(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Silk fibroin -- Barium ferrite -- Electrospun fibers -- Hybrid magnetic biomaterial -- Water annealing; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Chemistry; Materials -- Research; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 660.282
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mtchem.2021.100570
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2468-5194

Abstract

Abstract: In this study, flexible silk fibroin protein and biocompatible barium hexaferrite (BaM) nanoparticles were combined and electrospun into nanofibers, and their physical properties could be tuned through the mixing ratios and a water annealing process. Structural analysis indicates that the protein structure of the materials is fully controllable by the annealing process. The mechanical properties of the electrospun composites can be significantly improved by annealing, while the magnetic properties of barium hexaferrite are maintained in the composite. Notably, in the absence of a magnetic field, cell growth increased slightly with increasing BaM content. Application of an external magnetic field during in vitro cell biocompatibility study of the materials demonstrated significantly larger cell growth. We propose a mechanism to explain the effects of water annealing and magnetic field on cell growth. This study indicates that these composite electrospun fibers may be widely used in the biomedical field for controllable cell response through applying different external magnetic fields. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Self-assembly of BaM particles in silk protein nanofibers by water annealing. Tunable structure and magnetic properties of composites were achieved. High mechanical durability, excellent thermal stability, and good biocompatibility. Magnetic fields promoted the growth of human cells on the nanofiber matrix.