Incorporation of Human Recombinant Tropoelastin into Silk Fibroin Membranes with the View to Repairing Bruch’s Membrane

Journal of Functional Biomaterials

Audra M. A. Shadforth¹  Shuko Suzuki¹  Raphaelle Alzonne¹  Grant A. Edwards²  Neil A. Richardson¹  Traian V. Chirila¹  Damien G. Harkin¹ 

[1] Queensland Eye Institute, 140 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia; E-Mails:;Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; E-Mail:

关键词: Bombyx mori;    silk fibroin;    tropoelastin;    Bruch’s membrane;    retinal pigment epithelium;    age-related macular degeneration;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jfb6030946

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Bombyx mori silk fibroin membranes provide a potential delivery vehicle for both cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) components into diseased or injured tissues. We have previously demonstrated the feasibility of growing retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) on fibroin membranes with the view to repairing the retina of patients afflicted with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The goal of the present study was to investigate the feasibility of incorporating the ECM component elastin, in the form of human recombinant tropoelastin, into these same membranes. Two basic strategies were explored: (1) membranes prepared from blended solutions of fibroin and tropoelastin; and (2) layered constructs prepared from sequentially cast solutions of fibroin, tropoelastin, and fibroin. Optimal conditions for RPE attachment were achieved using a tropoelastin-fibroin blend ratio of 10 to 90 parts by weight. Retention of tropoelastin within the blend and layered constructs was confirmed by immunolabelling and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In the layered constructs, the bulk of tropoelastin was apparently absorbed into the initially cast fibroin layer. Blend membranes displayed higher elastic modulus, percentage elongation, and tensile strength (p < 0.01) when compared to the layered constructs. RPE cell response to fibroin membranes was not affected by the presence of tropoelastin. These findings support the potential use of fibroin membranes for the co-delivery of RPE cells and tropoelastin.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.