Degradable PHBHHx Modified by the Silk Fibroin for the Applications of Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Biodegradable polymer, poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx), has been used to fabricate the tissue-engineered cardiovascular scaffolds due to its controllable and suitable mechanical properties. However, the unsound biocompatibility of PHBHHx is still the unsolved problem till now. Silk fibroin (SF) with low inflammation, no blood clotting, and good cell and tissue compatibility in vitro and vivo is adopted as a surface modificator to improve the biocompatibility of PHBHHx. The adhesion of SF on PHBHHx surface was investigated by infrared spectroscopy and water contact angle. The proliferation and morphologies of human fibroblasts, human smooth muscle cells, endothelial-like cell line ECV304, and umbilical vein endothelial cells on the SF-modified PHBHHx were studied by the assays of MTT, H&E staining, DAPI staining, and the scanning electron microscopy. In sum, SF-modified PHBHHx scaffolds are highly biocompatible with cardiovascular-related cells, demonstrating its potential help for the extensive applications of PHBHHx in the cardiovascular regeneration.