Electrospinning Equipment: Silk fibroin-chondroitin sulfate scaffold with immunosuppressive properties for articular cartilage repair

Research progress of silk fibroin and chondroitin sulfate composite scaffolds

Ouyang Hongwei's team from the Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, and Yangzi Jiang from the Center for Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, jointly proposed that the combination of silk fibroin and chondroitin sulfate (CS) can synergistically promote the repair of articular cartilage defects. This study used salt immersion, freeze drying and cross-linking methods to prepare silk fibroin (silk) and silk fibroin/CS (silk-CS) scaffolds. The study found that silk-CS scaffolds maintained a better chondrocyte phenotype than silk scaffolds and reduced the inflammatory response of chondrocytes induced by interleukin (IL)-1β. In the rabbit osteochondral defect model, silk-CS scaffolds induced more new tissue formation and better structural repair.

Application and connection of electrospinning equipment

Electrospinning equipment plays an important role in the preparation of high-performance biomaterials. The nanofibers prepared by it have high specific surface area, high porosity and good biocompatibility, and are widely used in tissue engineering, drug delivery and other fields. Combining electrospinning technology with the research on silk fibroin and CS composite scaffolds can further improve the performance and application effect of the material:

Preparing nanofiber structures: Electrospinning can produce uniform continuous fibers with diameters ranging from nanometers to micrometers. These fibers can be used to build reinforced structures of scaffolds and improve their mechanical properties and stability.

Regulating 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. For example, nanofiber scaffolds with specific pore structures and pore sizes can be prepared to provide a good microenvironment for the adhesion, growth and tissue remodeling of chondrocytes.

Loading bioactive substances: Electrospinning equipment can prepare nanofiber scaffolds loaded with bioactive molecules, and by controlling the release rate, the continuous effect of bioactive substances in the cartilage repair site can be achieved. For example, loading growth factors and drugs that promote chondrocyte growth and differentiation into silk fibroin and CS composite nanofibers can further improve the bioactivity and repair effect of the scaffold.

Combination with other technologies: Electrospinning technology can also be combined with 3D printing technology to achieve 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 fibroin and CS composite scaffolds, meeting the personalized customization of different cartilage repair needs.

Summary and Outlook

As a new type of cartilage repair material, the silk fibroin and chondroitin sulfate composite scaffold has shown great application potential by synergistically promoting the growth and anti-inflammatory activity of chondrocytes. Electrospinning equipment plays an important role in the preparation of this scaffold, and can prepare nanofibers with excellent structure and performance, further improving the performance and application effect of the material. 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 finer 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 fibroin and CS composite scaffolds in the field of cartilage repair.

Electrospinning Nanofibers Article Source:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2017.09.005