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11:14
Designing Silk-silk Protein Alloy Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 13, 2014
Structure-function characteristics of the biomaterials based on milk-derived proteins
Arun Ghosh1, M Azam Ali, Luxmanan Selvanesan
1Lincoln Research Centre, Canterbury, New Zealand. arun.ghosh@agresearch.co.nz
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|March 9, 2010
Summary
This study developed novel biomaterials using polycaprolactone (PCL) blended with milk proteins like whey protein isolate (WPI) and lactalbumin. These PCL-protein blends show promise for implantable devices due to enhanced biocompatibility and wound healing properties.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Science
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Implantable biomaterials require enhanced biodegradability, bio-absorbability, and wound healing.
- Milk proteins offer valuable nutritional and biological properties for health applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of protein structure on polycaprolactone (PCL) based biomaterials.
- To evaluate mechanical, morphological, degradation, and cell interaction properties of PCL-protein blends.
Main Methods:
- Melt blending of whey protein isolate (WPI) or lactalbumin with PCL.
- Compression molding into thin sheets.
- Mechanical testing, scanning electron microscopy, in vitro enzymatic degradation, and cell culture studies.
Main Results:
- Increased protein content decreased tensile strength and modulus.
- Lactalbumin exhibited better compatibility with PCL than WPI.
- Biomaterials retained mechanical properties after enzymatic digestion and showed no cytotoxicity.
- Enhanced proliferation of L929 cells was observed compared to pure PCL.
Conclusions:
- PCL-based biomaterials with 20wt% protein are suitable for soft tissue engineering implants.
- These materials offer improved biodegradability, biocompatibility, and tissue healing.
- Lactalbumin-PCL blends demonstrate superior properties over WPI-PCL blends.
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