Enhanced physical and biological properties of chitosan scaffold by silk proteins cross-linking

To improve the application of chitosan (CS)-based scaffold for tissue regeneration, in this study, silk sericin (SS) and silk fibroin (SF) were employed to strengthen the cross-linking of the CS/glycerophosphate (GP) scaffolds. The CS/GP, SS/CS/GP and SF/SS/CS/GP scaffolds were fabricated by collosol-gelling and freeze-drying. The SS and SF improved the physical cross-linking of CS/GP scaffolds, formed uniform layered structures, increased mechanical properties, and decreased degradation velocity. Silk proteins significantly promoted cell growth into the scaffold and increased the blood compatibility. When the SF/SS/CS/GP scaffold was implanted into SD rats, appeared an initial acute inflammatory response, host cells invaded, new muscle fibers grow and formed. And no systemic acute toxicity was observed. The findings demonstrated that silk proteins could enhance the physical and biological properties of chitosan scaffold.