title: In vitro evaluation of electrospun silk fibroin scaffolds for vascular cell growth.
abstract: Human aortic endothelial (HAEC) and human coronary artery smooth muscle cell (HCASMC) responses on electrospun silk fibroin scaffolds were studied to evaluate potential for vascular tissue engineering. Cell proliferation studies supported the utility of this biomaterial matrix by both HAECs and HCASMCs. Alignment and elongation of HCASMCs on random non-woven nanofibrous silk scaffolds was observed within 5 days after seeding based on SEM and confocal microscopy. Short cord-like structures formed from HAECs on the scaffolds by day 4, and a complex interconnecting network of capillary tubes with identifiable lumens was demonstrated by day 7. The preservation of cell phenotype on the silk fibroin scaffolds was confirmed by the presence of cell-specific markers, including CD146, VE-cadherin, PECAM-1 and vWF for HAECs, and SM-MHC2 and SM-actin for HCASMCs at both protein and transcription levels using immunocytochemistry and real-time RT-PCR, respectively. Formation of ECM was also demonstrated for the HCASMCs, based on the quantification of collagen type I expression at protein and transcription levels. The results indicate a favorable interaction between vascular cells and electrospun silk fibroin scaffolds. When these results are factored into the useful mechanical properties and slow degradability of this protein biomaterial matrix, potential utility in tissue-engineered blood vessels can be envisioned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, 4 Colby Street, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cassandra B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Baughman
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012831:Bombyx; D051929:CD146 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D005349:Fibroins / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D047011:Silk / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013997:Time Factors; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D000099152:Cadherin 5
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D015820:Cadherins; D024042:Collagen Type I; D005349:Fibroins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D047011:Silk; D000099152:Cadherin 5