A Bio-inspired Multifunctionalized Silk Fibroin

Abstract

A bio-inspired multifunctionalized\nsilk fibroin (BMS) was synthesized\nin order to mimic the interaction of nidogen with the type IV collagen\nand laminin of basement membranes. The designed BMS consists of a\nmotif of laminin α-chain-derived, called IK peptide, and type\nIV collagen covalently bound to the silk fibroin (SF) by using EDC/NHS\ncoupling and a Cu-free click chemistry reaction, respectively. Silk\nfibroin was chosen as the main component of the BMS because it is\nversatile and biocompatible, induces an <i>in vivo</i> favorable\nbioresponse, and moreover can be functionalized with different methods.\nThe chemical structure of BMS was analyzed by using X-ray photoelectron\nspectroscopy, attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform\ninfrared, cross-polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic\nresonance techniques, and colorimetric assay. The SF and BMS solutions\nwere cross-linked by sonication to form hydrogels or casted to make\nfilms in order to evaluate and compare the early adhesion and viability\nof MRC5 cells. BMS hydrogels were also characterized by rheological\nand thermal analyses.