Electrospinning Equipment: Harmonizing thickness and permeability in bone tissue engineering: a novel silk membrane inspired by spider silk dynamics

Research progress of silk protein-based bilayer membranes

Zou Duohong's team from the Ninth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine published a research article entitled "Harmonizing Thickness and Permeability in Bone Tissue Engineering: A Novel Silk Fibroin Membrane Inspired by Spider Silk Dynamics" in the journal Advanced Materials. The study developed a new type of silk protein membrane inspired by the water collection mechanism of spider silk, which achieves directional fluid transport by harmoniously combining a smooth, dense layer with a rough, loose layer. This bilayer membrane (CSMP-DSF membrane) has conical microporous channels that can effectively promote the flow of liquid from the surface of the dense layer to the loose layer, thereby achieving rapid diffusion. The CSMP-DSF membrane exhibited excellent mechanical properties and anti-bacterial adhesion in vitro, and achieved bone defect repair effects comparable to those of the commercial Bio-Gide collagen membrane in in vivo experiments.

Application and connection of electrospinning equipment

Electrospinning equipment can produce high-performance nanofibers with high specific surface area, high porosity and good biocompatibility, which are widely used in tissue engineering, drug delivery and other fields. Combining electrospinning technology with the study of silk protein-based double-layer membranes can further improve the performance and application effect of materials:

Preparation of nanofiber structure: Electrospinning can produce uniform continuous fibers with diameters ranging from nanometers to micrometers. These fibers can be used to construct the reinforced structure of double-layer membranes and improve their mechanical properties and stability.

Regulation of fiber morphology and arrangement: By adjusting the parameters in the electrospinning process (such as spinning solution concentration, viscosity, electric field strength, etc.), the diameter and morphology of the fibers can be precisely controlled to optimize the performance of the material.

Loading bioactive substances: Electrospinning equipment can prepare nanofiber scaffolds loaded with bioactive molecules, and by controlling the release rate, the continuous action of bioactive substances in the bone repair site can be achieved.

Combination with other technologies: Electrospinning technology can also be combined with 3D printing technology to achieve the precise construction of complex three-dimensional structures. For example, by installing an electrospinning print head and an extrusion print head at the same time, the printing process of active biological structures can be completed in a single step. This combination can provide more design freedom and higher precision for the preparation of silk protein-based double-layer membranes, and meet the personalized customization of different bone repair needs.

Summary and Outlook

As a new type of bone repair material, silk protein-based double-layer membranes achieve directional fluid transport and excellent mechanical properties by simulating the water collection mechanism of spider silk, showing great potential in the field of bone tissue engineering. Electrospinning equipment plays an important role in the preparation of silk protein-based double-layer membranes, and can prepare nanofibers with excellent structure and performance to promote bone repair and tissue regeneration. Future research can further explore the combination of electrospinning technology with other emerging technologies, such as 3D printing, nanotechnology, etc., to achieve more complex and sophisticated structural design and functional regulation. In addition, the electrospinning process parameters and material selection can be optimized to improve the biocompatibility, mechanical properties and drug loading capacity of nanofibers, and promote the clinical transformation and application of silk protein-based double-layer membranes in the field of bone tissue engineering.

Electrospinning Nanofibers Article Source:

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202310697