title: Controlling microstructure of three-dimensional scaffolds from regenerated silk fibroin by adjusting pH.
abstract: For tissue engineering, it is very important to design and control the pore architecture of three-dimensional (3D) polymeric scaffolds, which plays an important role in directing tissue formation and function. In this study, 3D porous silk fibroin scaffolds produced using a freeze drying technique were prepared at pHs ranging from 5 to 9. The effects of pH on the pore microstructure of the silk fibroin scaffold were examined by rheometry, FESEM and FTIR. Different pore structures were formed according to the pH of silk fibroin because silk fibroin exhibits water-like behavior under basic conditions and gel-like behavior under acidic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Inha University, Incheon 402-751, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Youn
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Semi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Hyoung-Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D047011:Silk; D005349:Fibroins