Investigation of properties of chemically cross-linked silk nanofibrous mat as a nerve guide

Abstract

The aim of this study was to modify a nanofibrous silk mate with a chemically cross-linker. The nanofibrous mats designed by electrospinning method, then were modified using chemically cross-linker of 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) in the presence of N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The samples evaluated by microscopic, mechanical analyses, and cell culture assays with Schwann cells. Results of analyses showed a good resilience and compliance with chemically cross-linker. Cellular experiments showed a suitable cell adhesion and growth for the cross-linked mats without any toxicity. This modified mat appears to have the right organisation for testing in vivo special nerve tissue regeneration.

Keywords:

• Electrospinning
• nanofibrous silk
• 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC)
• Schwann cell
• cell culture