title: Bioactive macro/micro porous silk fibroin/nano-sized calcium phosphate scaffolds with potential for bone-tissue-engineering applications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The development of novel silk/nano-sized calcium phosphate (silk/nano-CaP) scaffolds with highly dispersed CaP nanoparticles in the silk fibroin (SF) matrix for bone tissue engineering.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nano-CaP was incorporated in a concentrated aqueous SF solution (16 wt.%) by using an in situ synthesis method. The silk/nano-CaP scaffolds were then prepared through a combination of salt-leaching/lyophilization approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CaP particles presented good affinity to SF and their size was inferior to 200 nm when theoretical CaP/silk ratios were between 4 and 16 wt.%, as determined by scanning electron microscopy. The CaP particles displayed a uniform distribution in the scaffolds at both microscopic and macroscopic scales as observed by backscattered scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography, respectively. The prepared scaffolds presented self-mineralization capability and no cytotoxicity confirmed by in vitro bioactivity tests and cell viability assays, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that the produced silk/nano-CaP scaffolds could be suitable candidates for bone-tissue-engineering applications.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials, Biodegradables & Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering & Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, S. Cláudio de Barco, 4806-909 Taipas, Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: Le-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Silva-Correia
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: Sofia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Caridade
authors.forename: Emanuel M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Rui A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: João F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mano
authors.forename: Joaquim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Ana L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D012831:Bombyx; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000737:chemistry*; D059587:Calcifying Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005349:Fibroins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D059587:Calcifying Nanoparticles; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D047011:Silk; D005349:Fibroins; C020243:calcium phosphate