Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Extracellular Matrix for Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials pp 151–160Cite as

Advances in Nanotechnologies for the Fabrication of Silk Fibroin-Based Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine ((STEMCELL))

Abstract

Silks are protein fibers produced by silkworms whose architecture is based on two proteins: fibroin and sericin. Because sericin has been recognized as the main cause of silk’s poor performance due to its antigenicity, fibroin alone has now remained popular as a biomaterial, also due to its strength and mechanical properties. Other advantages of this biological product are the water-based processing, biodegradability, and the presence of easily accessible chemical groups for functional modifications. Due to its versatility, fibroin is now widely considered for use in the manufacture of many biological devices and substitutes in different medical fields, with very different biological, physiological, and mechanical properties. In recent years, nanomaterials have gained considerable attention also in tissue engineering, because they exhibit properties that are significantly different to corresponding bulk materials, such as large surface area, increased strength, and enhanced surface reactivity, thus improving material performance. Reviewed studies, mainly in the regeneration of the musculoskeletal system, have been outlined the advantages of fibroin as a scaffold, and the technologies adopted for the nanostructure development of this protein. Further advancements will open up new perspectives in the use of this product in tissue regeneration. Silk-based materials are of particular interest where controlled biodegradation and good mechanical properties are required, such as in tissue engineering of musculoskeletal tissues. Their versatility in processing, biocompatibility properties, ease of sterilization, thermal stability, possibility for surface chemical modifications, and controllable degradation therefore make silk-derived proteins promising biomaterials for many clinical functions. Since research into these applications is quite new, we can expect interesting future developments, in which the nanotechnologies might play a decisive role.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Altman GH, Diaz F, Jakuba C, Calabro T, Horan RL, Chen J, Lu H, Richmond J, Kaplan DL. Silk-based biomaterials. Biomaterials. 2003;24:401–16.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Vepari C, Kaplan DL. Silk as a biomaterial. Prog Polym Sci. 2007;32:991–1007.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Meinel L, Hofmann S, Karageorgiou V, Kirker-Heade C, McCoole J, Gronowicz G, Zichner L, Langer R, Vunjak-Novakovica G, Kaplan DL. The inflammatory responses to silk films in vitro and in vivo. Biomaterials. 2005;26:147–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kundu B, Rajkhowa R, Kundu SC, Wang X. Silk fibroin biomaterials for tissue regenerations. Advanc Drug Deliv Rev. 2013;65:457–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Chen CH, Liu JM, Chua CK, Chou SM, Shyu VBH, Chen JP. Cartilage tissue engineering with silk fibroin scaffolds fabricated by indirect additive manufacturing technology. Materials. 2014;7:2104–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Ma Z, Kotaki M, Inai R, Ramakrishna S. Potential of nanofiber matrix as tissue-engineering scaffolds. Tissue Eng. 2005;11(1–2):101–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Lu G, Liu S, Lin S, Kaplan DL, Lu Q. Silk porous scaffolds with nanofibrous microstructures and tunable properties. Coll Surf B Biointerfaces. 2014;120:28–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Causin F, Pascarella R, Pavesi G, Marasco R, Zambon G, Battaglia R, Munari M. Acute endovascular treatment (48 hours) of uncoilable ruptured aneurysms at non-branching sites using silk flow-diverting devices. Interv Neuroradiol. 2011;17(3):357–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Leonardi M, Cirillo L, Toni F, Dall’Olio M, Princiotta C, Stafa A, Simonetti L, Agati R. Treatment of intracranial aneurysms using flow-diverting silk stents (BALT): a single centre experience. Interv Neuroradiol. 2011;17(3):306–15.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wang CY, Zhang K-H, Fan CY, Mo XM, Ruan HJ, Li FF. Aligned natural–synthetic polyblend nanofibers for peripheral nerve regeneration. Acta Biomater. 2011;7:634–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yoo CR, Yeo IS, Park KE, Park JH, Lee SJ, Park WH, Min BM. Effect of chitin/silk fibroin nanofibrous bicomponent structures on interaction with human epidermal keratinocytes. Int J Biol Macromol. 2008;42:324–34.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Meinel L, Betz O, Fajardo R, Hofmann S, Nazarian A, Cory E, Hilbe M, McCool J, Langer R, Vunjak-Novakovic G, Merkle HP, Rechenberg B, Kaplan DL, Kirker-Head C. Silk based biomaterials to heal critical sized femur defects. Bone. 2006;39:922–31.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Li C, Vepari C, Jin HJ, Kim HJ, Kaplan DL. Electrospun silk-BMP-2 scaffolds forbone tissue engineering. Biomaterials. 2006;27:3115–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Kweon H, Lee K-G, Chae C-H, Balázsi C, Min S-K, Kim JY, Choi JY, Kim SG. Development of nano-hydroxyapatite graft with silk fibroin scaffold as a new bone substitute. J Oral Maxillofacc Surg. 2011;69:1578–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang Y, Blasioli DJ, Kim HJ, Kim HS, Kaplan DL. Cartilage tissue engineering with silk scaffolds and human articular chondrocytes. Biomaterials. 2006;27:4434–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Gellynck K, Verdonk PCM, Nimmen EV, Almqvist KF, Gheysens T, Schokens G, Langenhove LV, Kiekens P, Mertens J, Verbruggen G. Silkwormand spider silk scaffolds for chondrocyte support. J Mater Sci Mater Med. 2008;19:3399–409.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Chen X, Qi YY, Wang LL, Yin Z, Yin GL, Zou XH, Ouyang HW. Ligament regeneration using a knitted silk scaffold combined with collagen matrix. Biomaterials. 2008;29:3683–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Sahoo S, LokToh S, Hong JC. Goh PLGA nanofiber-coated silk microfibrous scaffold for connective tissue engineering. J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater. 2010;95B:19–28.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yang MC, Wang SS, Chou NK, Chi NH, Huang YY, Chang YL, Shieh MJ, Chung TW. The cardiomyogenic differentiation of rat mesenchymal stem cells on silk fibroin– polysaccharide cardiac patches in vitro. Biomaterials. 2009;30:3757–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Patra C, Talukdar S, Novoyatleva T, Velagala SR, Mühlfeld C, Kundu B, Kundu SC, Engel FB. Silk protein fibroin from Antheraea mylitta for cardiac tissue engineering. Biomaterials. 2012;33:2673–80.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Yang T, Zhang M. Potential of nanofiber matrix as tissue-engineering scaffolds. Int J Ophthalmol. 2008;8:1557–9.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Lawrence BD, Marchant JK, Pindrus MA, Omenetto FG, Kaplan DL. Silk film biomaterials for cornea tissue engineering. Biomaterials. 2009;30:1299–308.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Cirillo B, Morra M, Catapano G. Adhesion and function of rat liver cells adherentto silk fibroin/collagen blend films. Int J Artif Organs. 2004;27:60–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Chang G, Kim HJ, Vunjak-Novakovic G, Kaplan DL, Kandel R. Enhancing annulusfibrosus tissue formation in porous silk scaffolds. J Biomed Mater Res A. 2010;92A:43–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Cannon GM Jr, Mauney JR, Gong EM, Yu RN, Adam RM, Estrada CR. Silk Asa novel biomaterial in bladder tissue engineering. J Pediatr Urol. 2010;6(S1):S82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ghassemifar R, Redmond S, Chirila TV, Zainuddin. Advancing towards a tissue-engineered tympanic membrane: silk fibroin as a substratum for growing human eardrum keratinocytes. J Biomater Appl. 2010;24:591–606.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Fini M, Motta A, Torricelli P, Giavaresi G, Nicoli Aldini N, Tschon M, Giardino R, Migliaresi C. The healing of confined critical size cancellous defects in the presence of silk fibroin hydroge. Biomaterials. 2005;26:3527–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Kuboyama N, Kiba H, Arai K, Uchida R, Tanimoto Y, Bhawal UK, Abiko Y, Miyamoto S, Knight D, Asakura T, Nishiyama N. Silk fibroin-based scaffolds for bone regeneration. J Biomed Mater Res Part B Appl Biomater. 2013;2013(101B):295–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Lin S, Lu G, Liu S, Bai S, Liu X, Lu Q, Zuo B, Kaplan DL, Zhu H. Nanoscale control of silks for nanofibrous scaffold formation with improved porous structure. J Mater Chem B Mater Biol Med. 2014;2(17):2622–33.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kim H, Che L, Ha Y, Ryu W. Mechanically-reinforced electrospun composite silk fibroin nanofibers containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. Mater Sci Eng. 2014;40:324–35.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Bhattacharjee P, Kundu B, Naskar D, Maiti TK, Bhattacharya D, Kundu SC. Nanofibrous Nonmulberry Silk/PVA Scaffold for Osteoinduction and Osseointegration. Biopolymers. 2015;103:271–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Teuschl AH, Neutsch L, Monforte X, Rünzler D, van Griensven M, Gabor F, Redl H. Enhanced cell adhesion on silk fibroin via lectin surface modification. Acta Biomaterialia. 2014;10:2506–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Uchida R, Bhawal UK, Kiba H, Arai K, Tanimoto Y, Kuboyama N, Asakura T, Nishiyama N. Effect of plasma-irradiated silk fibroin in bone regeneration. J Biosci Bioeng. 2014;118(3):333e–40e.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Yang C, Deng G, Chen W, Ye X, Mo X. A novel electrospun-aligned nanoyarn-reinforced nanofibrous scaffold for tendon tissue engineering. Coll Surf B Biointerfaces. 2014;122:270–6.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Teimouri A, Ebrahimi R, Emadi R, Beni BH, Chermahini AN. Nano-composite of silk fibroin–chitosan/Nano ZrO2 for tissue engineering applications: fabrication and morphology. Int J Biol Macromol. 2015;76:292–302.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Kishimoto Y, Ito F, Usamia H, Togawa E, Tsukada M, Morikawa H, Yamanaka S. Nanocomposite of silk fibroin nanofiber and montmorillonite: fabrication and morphology. Int J Biological Macromol. 2013;57:124–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kim H, Park JB, Kang MJ, Park YH. Surface-modified silk hydrogel containing hydroxyapatite nanoparticle with hyaluronic acid–dopamine conjugate. Int J Biological Macromol. 2014;70:516–22.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Farè S, Torricelli P, Giavaresi G, Bertoldi S, Alessandrino A, Villa T, Fini M, Tanzi MC, Freddi G. In vitro study on silk fibroin textile structure for Anterior Cruciate Ligament regeneration. Mater Sci Eng C. 2013;33:3601–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Gandhimathi C, Venugopal JR, Bhaarathy V, Ramakrishna S, Kumar SD. Biocomposite nanofibrous strategies for the controlled release of biomolecules for skin tissue regeneration. Int J Nanomed. 2014;9:4709–22.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Suganya S, Venugopalc J, Ramakrishnac S, Lakshmib BS, Giri VR. Naturally derived bio functional nanofibrous scaffold for skin tissue regeneration. Int J Biological Macromol. 2014;68:135–43.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Samal SK, Dash M, Shelyakova T, Declercq HA, Uhlarz M, Bañobre-López M, Dubruel P, Cornelissen M, Herrmannsdörfer T, Rivas J, Padeletti G, De Smedt S, Braeckmans K, Kaplan DL, Dediu VA. Biomimetic magnetic silk scaffolds. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2015;7(11):6282–92.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Mottaghitalab F, Farokhi M, Shokrgozar MA, Atyabi F. Silk fibroin nanoparticle as a novel drug delivery system. J Controll Release. 2015;206:161–76.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Subia B, Kundu SC. Drug loading and release on tumor cells using silk fibroin-albumin nanoparticles as carriers. Nanotechnology. 2013;24(3):035103 (Epub 21 Dec 2012).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Preclinical and Surgical Studies, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bologna, Italy

    Nicolò Nicoli Aldini

  2. Laboratory of Biocompatibility, Innovative Technologies and Advanced Therapies, Rizzoli RIT Department, Bologna, Italy

    Milena Fini

Authors
  1. Nicolò Nicoli Aldini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Milena Fini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nicolò Nicoli Aldini .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, Transfusional Medicine and Biotechnology, Spirito Santo Hospital, Pescara, Italy

    Anna C. Berardi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Aldini, N.N., Fini, M. (2018). Advances in Nanotechnologies for the Fabrication of Silk Fibroin-Based Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration. In: Berardi, A. (eds) Extracellular Matrix for Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials. Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77023-9_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation