title: In vitro study on silk fibroin textile structure for anterior cruciate ligament regeneration.
abstract: A novel hierarchical textile structure made of silk fibroin from Bombyx mori capable of matching the mechanical performance requirements of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and in vitro cell ingrowth is described. This sericin-free, Silk Fibroin Knitted Sheath with Braided Core (SF-KSBC) structure was fabricated using available textile technologies. Micro-CT analysis confirmed that the core was highly porous and had a higher degree of interconnectivity than that observed for the sheath. The in vivo cell colonization of the scaffolds is thus expected to penetrate even the internal parts of the structure. Tensile mechanical tests demonstrated a maximum load of 1212.4±56.4 N (under hydrated conditions), confirming the scaffold's suitability for ACL reconstruction. The absence of cytotoxic substances in the extracts of the SF-KSBC structure in culture medium was verified by in vitro tests with L929 fibroblasts. In terms of extracellular matrix production, Human Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts (HPdLFs) cultured in direct contact with SF-KSBC, compared to control samples, demonstrated an increased secretion of aggrecan (PG) and fibronectin (FBN) at 3 and 7 days of culture, and no change in IL-6 and TNF-α secretion. Altogether, the outcomes of this investigation confirm the significant utility of this novel scaffold for ACL tissue regeneration.
authors.affiliation: Politecnico di Milano, Dept. of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering G. Natta, P.zza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133, Milan, Italy. silvia.fare@polimi.it
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farè
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torricelli
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giavaresi
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertoldi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alessandrino
authors.forename: Tomaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fini
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tanzi
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Freddi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012831:Bombyx; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005349:Fibroins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D013784:Textiles; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography
chemical_list: D005349:Fibroins; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase
keywords: ACL; Cytocompatibility; Hierarchical textile structure; Micro-CT; Silk fibroin; Tensile mechanical properties