A thin film comprising silk peptide and cellulose nanofibrils implanting on the electrospun poly(lactic acid) fibrous scaffolds for biomedical reconstruction

Conjunctival reconstruction using biocompatible polymers constitutes an effective treatment for conjunctival scarring and associated visual impairment. In this work, a thin film comprising silk peptide (SP), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) that implanted on the poly(lactic acid) (PLA) electrospun fibrous membranes (EFMs) was designed for biomedical reconstruction. SP and CNF as thin films can improve the surface hydrophilicity of the as-prepared scaffolds, which synergistically enhanced the biocompatibility. In in vivo experiments, the developed PLA EFMs modified with 3 wt% SP/CNF/AgNPs could be easily manipulated and transplanted onto conjunctival defects in rabbits, consequently accelerating the structural and functional restoration of the ocular surface in 12 days. Additionally, incorporation of 0.30 mg/g AgNPs efficiently reduced the topical application of antibiotics without causing infections. Thus, these resultant scaffolds could not only serve as useful alternatives for conjunctival engineering, but also prevent infections effectively with a very low content of AgNPs.

Automated summary

A thin film composed of silk peptide, cellulose nanofibrils, and silver nanoparticles was developed for conjunctival reconstruction. The film improved the surface hydrophilicity of the scaffolds and enhanced biocompatibility. In vivo experiments on rabbits demonstrated that the modified film effectively restored the ocular surface structure and function within 12 days.