AI Article Synopsis

  • Tissues are made of cells within an extracellular matrix (ECM) that supports cell attachment and organization.
  • By fusing ECM components with silk proteins, a new silk protein called FN-silk self-assembles into microfiber networks that can incorporate mammalian cells effectively.
  • These silk-based 3D scaffolds promote cell growth, maintain cell viability for at least 90 days, and enable the creation of complex tissue structures like blood vessels, providing a promising approach for tissue engineering and stem cell differentiation.

Article Abstract

Tissues are built of cells integrated in an extracellular matrix (ECM) which provides a three-dimensional (3D) microfiber network with specific sites for cell anchorage. By genetic engineering, motifs from the ECM can be functionally fused to recombinant silk proteins. Such a silk protein, FN-silk, which harbours a motif from fibronectin, has the ability to self-assemble into networks of microfibers under physiological-like conditions. Herein we describe a method by which mammalian cells are added to the silk solution before assembly, and thereby get uniformly integrated between the formed microfibers. In the resulting 3D scaffold, the cells are highly proliferative and spread out more efficiently than when encapsulated in a hydrogel. Elongated cells containing filamentous actin and defined focal adhesion points confirm proper cell attachment to the FN-silk. The cells remain viable in culture for at least 90 days. The method is also scalable to macro-sized 3D cultures. Silk microfibers formed in a bundle with integrated cells are both strong and extendable, with mechanical properties similar to that of artery walls. The described method enables differentiation of stem cells in 3D as well as facile co-culture of several different cell types. We show that inclusion of endothelial cells leads to the formation of vessel-like structures throughout the tissue constructs. Hence, silk-assembly in presence of cells constitutes a viable option for 3D culture of cells integrated in a ECM-like network, with potential as base for engineering of functional tissue.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6472362PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42541-yDOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

cells
11
cells integrated
8
silk
5
integrated
5
assembly functionalized
4
functionalized silk
4
silk cells
4
cells proliferative
4
proliferative cultures
4
cultures integrated
4

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!