Silk fibroin microfibers and chitosan modified poly (glycerol sebacate) composite scaffolds for skin tissue engineering

Porous mSF/PGS and CS/PGS composite scaffolds were prepared by the combination of poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) with silk fibroin microfibers (mSF) and chitosan (CS) as modifiers through particulate leaching and freeze-drying techniques. Both mSF/PGS and CS/PGS scaffolds show highly interconnected and open porous structures, and the crosslink density and water absorption of PGS were obviously enhanced by the modifiers. Moreover, the silk fibroin microfiber and chitosan can slow down and control the degradation rate of PGS. The biocompatibility of these porous PGS based composite scaffolds for skin tissue engineering was evaluated by cell culture experiments, and the results indicate of the good attachment, proliferation and deep penetration of cells into these composite scaffolds. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.