title: Silk hydrogels from non-mulberry and mulberry silkworm cocoons processed with ionic liquids.
abstract: Matrices based on silk fibroin from the non-mulberry silkworm Antheraea mylitta and the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori have demonstrated good applicability in regenerative medicine. However, the cocoons of A. mylitta are underutilized in part due to their lack of solubility in traditional organic solvents. Therefore, the present work investigates the solubilization and processing of degummed fibers obtained from the cocoons of both silkworm species into hydrogels using ionic liquids (ILs). The developed hydrogels exhibited a rubbery consistency, viscoelastic behavior and rapid degradation in the presence of protease XIV. Scanning electron and confocal microscopy images suggest that human adipose stem cells (hASCs) are able to adhere to and migrate at different levels within the hydrogel structures. Moreover, the MTS assay demonstrated the maintenance of cell metabolic activity for up to 28 days, while DNA quantification showed that hASCs were able to proliferate on the seeded hydrogels. The findings indicate that complete IL removal from the fabricated hydrogels results in a positive hASCs cellular response. Thus the present approach provides a unique opportunity to broaden the processability and application of silk fibroin obtained from A. mylitta cocoons for regenerative medicine, namely cartilage regeneration.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, University of Minho, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, AvePark, Zona Industrial da Gandra, Caldas das Taipas, 4806-909 Guimarães, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal. Electronic address: simonesilva@dep.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Simone S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Elena G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Popa
authors.forename: Manuela E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Mariana B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Sunita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.forename: Bano
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Subia
authors.forename: João F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mano
authors.forename: Subhas C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D012831:Bombyx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005612:Freeze Drying; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D052578:Ionic Liquids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031625:Morus / Q000469:parasitology*; D009036:Moths / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D047011:Silk / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D047011:Silk; D004247:DNA
keywords: Antheraea mylitta; Bombyx mori; Fibroin; Hydrogels; Ionic liquids