Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2009):

Evaluation on in vitro biocompatibility of silk fibroin-based biomaterials with primarily cultured hippocampal neurons.

Full Abstract

Silk fibroin-based biomaterials have recently found increasing applications in the tissue-engineering field including the generation of artificial nerve guides for peripheral nerve repair. The aim of this study was to investigate the suitability of silk fibroin as a candidate biomaterial for central nervous system (CNS) therapy. We found that substrates made up of silk fibroin fibers supported the survival and growth of the attached hippocampal neurons by using morphological observation. We also cultured the hippocampal neurons in silk fibroin extract for different times, and observed no significant difference occurring in their morphology, cell viability for these cultured hippocampal neurons as compared to those cultured in plain neuronal culture medium. Moreover, immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis revealed that no significant difference was found in mRNA or protein levels of the growth-associated molecules, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, growth-associated protein-43, neurofilament, nerve growth factor, and nerve growth factor-receptor P75, between the hippocampal neurons cultured in the silk fibroin extract and in plain neuronal culture medium. Taken together, all the results demonstrate that silk fibroin has good biocompatibility with primarily cultured hippocampal neurons without any significant cytotoxic effects on their cell phenotype and functions, suggesting a potential possible use of silk fibroin for preparing the tissue-engineered nerve guides or drug delivery vehicles to treat CNS injuries or diseases.

Author information

Author/s: Tang, Xin (X); Ding, Fei (F); Yang, Yumin (Y); Hu, Nan (N); Wu, Hong (H); Gu, Xiaosong (X);

Affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province 226001, People's Republic of China.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A (J Biomed Mater Res A), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 91 (issue 1) : pp 166-74

Dates: Created 2009/08/26; Completed 2009/11/02;

PMID: 18780373, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/2/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Biocompatible Materials - chemistry Bombyx - chemistry Cell Proliferation Cell Survival Cells, Cultured

Fibroins - chemistry; isolation & purification Gene Expression Hippocampus - cytology Neurons - cytology; metabolism Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Associated Chemicals: Biocompatible Materials (0) ; Fibroins (9007-76-5)

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