Enhanced bone regeneration usingAntheraea mylittasilk fibroin and chitosan based scaffold:in-vivoandin-vitrostudy

In this study, highly interconnected porous scaffolds fromAntheraea mylittasilk fibroin (SF) and chitosan (CH) were fabricated using the freeze-drying method. The weight ratios of SF to CH were varied from 90:10 (SF₉₀/CH₁₀) to 50:50 (SF₅₀/CH₅₀) to prepare the scaffolds from the aqueous suspension of the protein-polysaccharide mix. From the initial optimization of scaffold composition with respect to their microstructure, porosity, and mechanical properties, the SF₈₀/CH₂₀scaffold exhibited the most suitable properties for bone tissue engineering application as compared to others compositions. Hencein-vitrohemocompatibility, protein adsorption, and MG-63 cell culture studies were carried out for SF₈₀/CH₂₀scaffold. The fabricated SF₈₀/CH₂₀scaffold showed a more controlled swelling percentage of 42.8%, with high BSA protein adsorption of 0.39 mg of BSA per gm of the scaffold at 24 h incubation period. Furthermore,in-vitroMG-63 cell culture study onto the fabricated SF₈₀/CH₂₀scaffold elicited excellent MG-63 cell attachment with better biocompatibility and cell viability with increased F-action production from day 3 to day 7 of the cell culture period.In vivobone defect healing in a rabbit tibia model revealed excellent bone healing capacity in SF₈₀/CH₂₀scaffold implanted specimens compared to control ones, as evident from histology and fluorochrome labeling analysis.