Silk-based hybrid microfibrous mats as guided bone regeneration membranes

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Guided bone regeneration (GBR) therapy utilizes membranes to enhance bone regeneration by preventing fibroblast infiltration.
• Bioactive materials with osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties are crucial for effective GBR membranes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) and LAPONITE® (LAP) hybrid microfibrous mat for GBR applications.
• To assess the potential of the RSF-LAP mat in preventing fibroblast cell ingrowth and promoting bone regeneration.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of RSF-LAP hybrid microfibrous mats using electrospinning.
• Characterization of the microfibrous mat structure, pore size, and hydrophilicity.
• In vitro evaluation of cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

Main Results:

• The RSF-LAP mats exhibited an interconnected structure with pore sizes smaller than fibroblast cells, effectively inhibiting fibroblast ingrowth.
• LAP incorporation significantly enhanced the hydrophilicity of the RSF mats.
• RSF-LAP mats demonstrated improved BMSC adhesion and proliferation compared to pristine RSF mats.
• The hybrid mats promoted osteogenic differentiation, evidenced by increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and osteo-specific gene expression.

Conclusions:

• The easily fabricated RSF-LAP microfibrous mat is a promising biomaterial for GBR.
• The material's ability to prevent fibroblast infiltration and support osteogenesis makes it suitable for bone regeneration therapy.