title: Role of non-mulberry silk fibroin in deposition and regulation of extracellular matrix towards accelerated wound healing.
abstract: Bombyx mori silk fibroin (BMSF) as biopolymer has been extensively explored in wound healing applications. However, limited study is available on the potential of silk fibroin (SF) from non-mulberry (Antheraea assama and Philosamia ricini) silk variety. Herein, we have developed non-mulberry SF (NMSF) based electrospun mats functionalized with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and ciprofloxacin HCl as potential wound dressing. The NMSF based mats exhibited essential properties of wound dressing like biocompatibility, high water retention capacity (440%), water vapor transmission rate (∼2330gm-2day-1), high elasticity (∼2.6MPa), sustained drug release and antibacterial activity. Functionalized NMSF mats enhanced the proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts and HaCaT cells in vitro as compared to non-functionalized mats (p⩽0.01) showing effective delivery of EGF. Extensive in vivo wound healing assesment demonstrated accelerated wound healing, enhanced re-epithelialization, highly vascularized granulation tissue and higher wound maturity as compared to BMSF based mats. NMSF mats treated wounds showed regulated deposition of mature elastin, collagen and reticulin fibers in the extracellular matrix of skin. Presence of skin appendages and isotropic collagen fibers in the regenerated skin also demonstrated scar-less healing and aesthetic wound repair.
  
  
  
  A facile fabrication of a ready-to-use bioactive wound dressing capable of concomitantly accelerating the healing process as well as deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to circumvent further scarring complicacies has become a focal point of research. In this backdrop, our present work is based on non-mulberry silk fibroin (NMSF) electrospun antibiotic loaded semi-occlusive mats, mimicking the ECM of skin in terms of morphology, topology, microporous structure and mechanical stiffness. Regulation of ECM deposition and isotropic orientation evinced the potential of the mat as an instructive platform for skin regeneration. The unique peptide motifs of NMSF assisted the augmented recruitment of fibroblast, keratinocytes and endothelial cells leading to accelerated wound healing. Early progression of mature granulation, faster re-epithelialization and angiogenesis in the wounds in in vivo rabbit model forwarded the blended nanofibrous mats of NMSF and PVA ferrying EGF, apt for scarless healing.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati - 781039, Assam, India.
authors.forename: Dimple
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chouhan
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata - 700037, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Bijayshree
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, Kolkata - 700037, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Samit K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Nandi
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial and Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati - 781039, Assam, India. Electronic address: biman.mandal@iitg.ernet.in.
authors.forename: Biman B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Mandal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D065546:Drug Liberation; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005349:Fibroins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D031625:Morus / Q000737:chemistry*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits; D013227:Steam; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000187:drug effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D013227:Steam; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin; D005349:Fibroins
keywords: Biomaterial; Electrospinning; Non-mulberry silk; Wound dressing; Wound healing