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Engineering a Bilayered Hydrogel to Control ASC Differentiation
Published on: May 25, 2012
Fabrication and Characterization of Silk-Fibroin, Polyvinyl Alcohol, and Natural Compounds-Derived Bioscaffold to
Shubhra Sinha1, Jekhan Andimadam Madana Saravanan1,2, Azam Ali2,3
1Department of Physiology, Heart Otago, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, 9016 Otago, New Zealand.
Background:
Impaired wound healing represents a significant clinical challenge. Persistent inflammation, excessive reactive oxygen species, and impaired angiogenesis are key mechanisms underlying nonhealing ulcers. We developed a multifunctional bioscaffold incorporating natural bioactive compounds as a mechanistic therapeutic strategy.
Methods:
Polyvinyl alcohol and silk fibroin formed the scaffold matrix, blended with Manuka honey, fenugreek seed extract, and Ghrelin for their antioxidant and proangiogenic properties.
Results:
Scanning electron microscopy revealed defect-free nanofibers with diameters below 200 nm. Fourier-transform infrared analysis confirmed successful incorporation of the bioactive components, indicating effective interactions within the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-silk fibroin (SF) matrix. Thermal analysis demonstrated improved thermal stability upon addition of the bioactive agents. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay confirmed the absence of toxicity. Scratch assays confirmed enhanced migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, supporting the scaffold's angiogenic potential. Additionally, the scaffold exhibited superior antioxidant activity and significantly improved cell proliferation.
Conclusions:
These findings demonstrate that the developed bioscaffold integrates antioxidant and proangiogenic properties, making it a promising candidate for various biomedical applications, particularly in wound dressings, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensing.
