5. Biomedical applications of modified silk fibers

5.1 2D cell culture coatings

Numerous modified fibroin derivatives can be used as coatings for 2D cell culture substrates, to see to what extent surface chemistry or grafting of biological molecules can affect cell adhesion, growth and proliferation.

Conjugating fibroin to PLA increases hydrophilicity, with the contact angle dropping from 69° to 52°, leading to increased adhesion and osteoblast proliferation. PEG also increases hydrophilicity, with contact angles of 33°.

The incorporation of "Azo" moieties containing different groups that increase or decrease the hydrophilicity of fibroin can influence the growth and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). hMSCs proliferate best on hydrophilic fibroin derivatives with a...