title: Preliminary results of the application of a silk fibroin scaffold to otology.
abstract: The surgical treatment to repair chronic tympanic membrane perforations is myringoplasty. Although multiple autologous grafts, allografts, and synthetic graft materials have been used over the years, no single graft material is superior for repairing all perforation types. Recently, the remarkable properties of silk fibroin protein have been studied, with biomedical and tissue engineering applications in mind, across a number of medical and surgical disciplines. The present study examines the use of silk fibroin for its potential suitability as an alternative graft in myringoplasty surgery by investigating the growth and proliferation of human tympanic membrane keratinocytes on a silk fibroin scaffold in vitro. Light microscopy, immunofluorescent staining, and confocal imaging all reveal promising preliminary results. The biocompatibility, transparency, stability, high tensile strength, and biodegradability of fibroin make this biomaterial an attractive option to study for this utility.
authors.affiliation: Ear Science Institute of Australia and Ear Sciences Centre, School of Surgery, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. blevin@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Brett
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.forename: Sharon Leanne
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.forename: Rangam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajkhowa
authors.forename: Robert Henry
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Eikelboom
authors.forename: Robert Jeffery
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Marano
authors.forename: Marcus David
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Atlas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005349:Fibroins; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008422:Materials Testing; D009036:Moths; D009225:Myringoplasty; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D005349:Fibroins