Cryostructurates Based on Fibroin and Its Compositions with Chitosan: Preparation and Use as Macroporous Carriers for Cell Culturing
摘要
Regenerated fibroin isolated from natural silk and mixed solutions of it with chitosan were used to obtain cryostructurates—macroporous hydrogel matrices intended for application in tissue engineering as carriers for cell culturing. The conditions for stabilizing the structure of such biopolymeric carriers by cross-linking fibroin (Fb) and chitosan (Chit) with genipin (Gp) in alcohol solutions and the features of cell growth on the obtained materials were studied. Investigation of the interaction of genipin with fibroin and chitosan acetate showed that the reaction rate leading to the cross-linking of macromolecular chains of amino-containing biopolymers, as well as the concentration of the genipin conversion product, can be significantly increased compared to using the individual protein. With the use of confocal laser scanning microscopy, the structure of macroporous carriers was studied and their ability to support 3D growth of mouse fibroblasts (L929) in an in vitro model was demonstrated. The obtained biomaterials are promising for use in tissue engineering.