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Zhuang X, Zhu H, Wang F, Hu X. Revolutionizing wild silk fibers: Ultrasound enhances structure, properties, and regenerability of protein biomaterials in ionic liquids. ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2024; 109:107018. [PMID: 39128406 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2024.107018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Ultrasound-assisted regulation of biomaterial properties has attracted increasing attention due to the unique reaction conditions induced by ultrasound cavitation. In this study, we explored the fabrication of wild tussah silk nanofiber membranes via ultrasound spray spinning from an ionic liquid system, characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), water contact angle, cytocompatibility tests, and enzymatic degradation studies. We investigated the effects of ultrasound propagation in an ionic liquid on the morphology, structure, thermal and mechanical properties, surface hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of the fabricated fibers. The results showed that as ultrasound treatment time increased from 0 to 60 min, the regenerated silk fiber diameter decreased by 0.97 μm and surface area increased by 30.44 μm2, enhancing the fiber surface smoothness and uniformity. Ultrasound also promoted the rearrangement of protein molecular chains and transformation of disordered protein structures into β-sheets, increasing the β-sheet content to 54.32 %, which significantly improved the materials' thermal stability (with decomposition temperatures rising to 256.38 °C) and mechanical properties (elastic modulus reaching 0.75 GPa). In addition, hydrophilicity, cytocompatibility, and biodegradability of the fiber membranes all improved with longer ultrasound exposure, highlighting the potential of ultrasound technology in advancing the properties of natural biopolymers for applications in sustainable materials science and tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xincheng Zhuang
- Center of Analysis and Testing, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Haomiao Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Center of Analysis and Testing, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China.
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA; Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA.
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Li T, Tang Q, Xu J, Ye X, Chen K, Zhong J, Zhu J, Lu S, Zhu T. Apelin-Overexpressing Neural Stem Cells in Conjunction with a Silk Fibroin Nanofiber Scaffold for the Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury. Stem Cells Dev 2023; 32:539-553. [PMID: 37261998 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2023.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), especially moderate or severe TBI, is one of the most devastating injuries to the nervous system, as the existing therapies for neurological defect repair have difficulty achieving satisfactory results. Neural stem cells (NSCs) therapy is a potentially effective treatment option, especially after specific genetic modifications and when used in combination with biomimetic biological scaffolds. In this study, tussah silk fibroin (TSF) scaffolds with interconnected nanofibrous structures were fabricated using a top-down method. We constructed the apelin-overexpressing NSCs that were cocultured with a TSF nanofiber scaffold (TSFNS) that simulated the extracellular matrix in vitro. To verify the therapeutic efficacy of engineered NSCs in vivo, we constructed TBI models and randomized the C57BL/6 mice into three groups: a control group, an NSC-ctrl group (transplantation of NSCs integrated on TSFNS), and an NSC-apelin group (transplantation of apelin-overexpressing NSCs integrated on TSFNS). The neurological functions of the model mice were evaluated in stages. Specimens were obtained 24 days after transplantation for immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blot experiments, and statistical analysis was performed. The results showed that the combination of the TSFNS and apelin overexpression guided extension and elevated the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the transplantation of TSFNS-NSCs-Apelin reduced lesion volume, enhanced angiogenesis, inhibited neuronal apoptosis, reduced blood-brain barrier damage, and mitigated neuroinflammation. In summary, TSFNS-NSC-Apelin therapy could build a microenvironment that is more conducive to neural repair to promote the recovery of injured neurological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwen Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Key Laboratory for Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Regeneration, Institute of Neurosurgery, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Qisheng Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Key Laboratory for Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Regeneration, Institute of Neurosurgery, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaxin Xu
- Endoscopy Centre and Endoscopy Research Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangru Ye
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Key Laboratory for Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Regeneration, Institute of Neurosurgery, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Kezhu Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Key Laboratory for Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Regeneration, Institute of Neurosurgery, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjie Zhong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Key Laboratory for Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Regeneration, Institute of Neurosurgery, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhong Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Key Laboratory for Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Regeneration, Institute of Neurosurgery, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Shijun Lu
- The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Tongming Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, National Center for Neurological Disorders, National Key Laboratory for Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Regeneration, Institute of Neurosurgery, MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai, China
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Zou S, Yao X, Shao H, Reis RL, Kundu SC, Zhang Y. Nonmulberry silk fibroin-based biomaterials: Impact on cell behavior regulation and tissue regeneration. Acta Biomater 2022; 153:68-84. [PMID: 36113722 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Silk fibroin (SF) is a promising biomaterial due to its good biocompatibility, easy availability, and high mechanical properties. Compared with mulberry silk fibroin (MSF), nonmulberry silk fibroin (NSF) isolated from typical nonmulberry silkworm silk exhibits unique arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) sequences with favorable cell adhesion enhancing effect. This inherent property probably makes the NSF more suitable for cell culture and tissue regeneration-related applications. Accordingly, various types of NSF-based biomaterials, such as particles, films, fiber mats, and 3D scaffolds, are constructed and their application potential in different biomedical fields is extensively investigated. Based on these promising NSF biomaterials, this review firstly makes a systematical comparison between the molecular structure and properties of MSF and typical NSF and highlights the unique properties of NSF. In addition, we summarize the effective fabrication strategies from degummed nonmulberry silk fibers to regenerated NSF-based biomaterials with controllable formats and their recent application progresses in cell behavior regulation and tissue regeneration. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives for the fabrication and application of NSF-based biomaterials are discussed. Related research and perspectives may provide valuable references for designing and modifying effective NSF-based and other natural biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: There exist many reviews about mulberry silk fibroin (MSF) biomaterials and their biomedical applications, while that about nonmulberry silk fibroin (NSF) biomaterials is scarce. Compared with MSF, NSF exhibits unique arginine-glycine-aspartic acid sequences with promising cell adhesion enhancing effect, which makes NSF more suitable for cell culture and tissue regeneration related applications. Focusing on these advanced NSF biomaterials, this review has systematically compared the structure and properties of MSF and NSF, and emphasized the unique properties of NSF. Following that, the effective construction strategies for NSF-based biomaterials are summarized, and their recent applications in cell behavior regulations and tissue regenerations are highlighted. Furthermore, current challenges and future perspectives for the fabrication and application of NSF-based biomaterials were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengzhi Zou
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Huili Shao
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui L Reis
- I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Barco, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Subhas C Kundu
- I3Bs-Research Institute on Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Headquarters of the European Institute of Excellence on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University of Minho, Barco, Guimarães 4805-017, Portugal
| | - Yaopeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People's Republic of China.
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