Silk Film Stiffness Modulates Corneal Epithelial Cell Mechanosignaling

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Silk fibroin films are promising for corneal tissue engineering due to optical transparency, biocompatibility, and mechanical strength.
• Tunable properties of silk films can engineer cellular microenvironments for corneal wound regeneration.
• Limited research exists on silk film stiffness tunability and its cellular effects in corneal applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop silk films with stiffnesses mimicking corneal tissue.
• To characterize silk films in an aqueous, cellular-force-relevant environment.
• To investigate the mechanosensitivity of corneal epithelial cells to varying film stiffnesses.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of silk fibroin films with tunable stiffness.
• Characterization of film properties in an aqueous, native-like environment.
• Assessment of corneal epithelial cell responses (spreading, cytoskeletal tension, mechanotransducer localization) to films of different stiffnesses.

Main Results:

• Silk fibroin films were fabricated with stiffnesses comparable to native corneal tissue.
• Corneal epithelial cells demonstrated mechanosensitivity to film stiffness.
• Cell spreading, cytoskeletal tension, and molecular mechanotransducer localization were significantly associated with silk film stiffness.

Conclusions:

• Silk film stiffness is a critical parameter that can regulate corneal epithelial cell behavior.
• Tunable silk fibroin films represent a viable strategy for ocular surface repair and corneal tissue engineering.
• This work highlights the potential of mechanical cues in guiding cellular responses for regenerative medicine applications.