title: Attachment and growth of cultured fibroblast cells on silk protein matrices.
abstract: The attachment and growth of L-929 cells on films made of Bombyx mori silk proteins--fibroin and sericin and their mixtures--was studied by a cell culture method. Both cell attachment and growth were dependent on a minimum of around 90% sericin in the mixture. The results from electron micrography as well as from the DSC measurements supported the notion that the mixture of the two proteins fibroin and sericin has a phase-separated structure in the solid state. The observed minimum of sericin in the cell attachment and growth is thought to be a result of this phase-separated structure. Films of pure component proteins (i.e., 100% fibroin or sericin) exhibited as high a cell attachment and growth as collagen, a widely used mammalian cell culture substrate. However, a morphological study of the attached cells revealed that the cells attached to silk fibroin were extended and had a spindle shape, just like the cells attached to collagen, while the cells attached to the silk sericin had a different shape. It is concluded, therefore, that the attachment condition on silk fibroin is ideal for the viability, growth and function of the cells.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Materials and Chemical Research, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Minoura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aiba
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gotoh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsukada
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000502:physiology*; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005349:Fibroins / Q000032:analysis; D019476:Insect Proteins; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D047030:Sericins; D047011:Silk; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D019476:Insect Proteins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011506:Proteins; D047030:Sericins; D047011:Silk; D003094:Collagen; D005349:Fibroins