Radiologic and histologic characterization of silk fibroin as scaffold coating for rabbit tracheal defect repair.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the feasibility of silk fibroin as a biomaterial coating used in tracheal defect reconstruction.


METHODS
Silk fibroin was subcutaneously embedded in three rabbits and as an artificial implant material coating to reconstruct 12 rabbits' tracheal defects. The postoperative radiologic and histologic characterization was summarized.


RESULTS
The thickness of the fibroblasts layer covering the porus and nonporus silk fibroin film was 240.4 +/- 9.9 and 302.3 +/- 10.5 microm, respectively, and there was no statistical difference (P > 0.05) within each group. There was no foreign-body granuloma or macrophagocyte infiltration around the silk film. The tracheal reconstruction study showed a normal mucous membrane with normal cilial growth on the artificial implant and no visible granulation tissue in the reconstructed tracheal cavity.


CONCLUSIONS
Silk fibroin is a potential new biomaterial coating for tracheal defect reconstruction. The mechanism of silk fibroin appears to promote tracheal mucous membrane, which may be related to its molecular structure and biology.
Ni
Yusu
Y
Department of Otolaryngology, Eye and ENT Hospital of Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Zhao
Xia
X
Zhou
Liang
L
Shao
Zhengzhong
Z
Yan
Wenhong
W
Chen
Xin
X
Cao
Zhengbing
Z
Xue
Zhen
Z
Jiang
Jack J
JJ
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D011859:Radiography; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014025:Titanium; D014132:Trachea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C482288:fibroin, silkworm; D005349:Fibroins; D014025:Titanium