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Structure and properties of protein-based fibrous hydrogels derived from silk fibroin and sodium alginate

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Abstract

The biocompatible fibrous hydrogels were formed using physically cross-linked biopolymers. Gelation of silk fibroin (SF, from Bombyx mori silk) aqueous solution was effected by self-assembly and used to entrap blended sodium alginate (SA) without chemical cross-linking. SA was formed into SF/SA fibrous hydrogels with different mixing ratios, forming homogeneous nanofiber networks morphology. Measurements by XRD and FTIR indicated that silk I and silk II structure existed in the fibrous hydrogels and that the secondary structure of fibroin was transformed to β-sheet from random coil during this sol–gel transition process. The compressive stress of SF/SA fibrous hydrogels decreased slightly with increasing of SA content. At the same time, fibrous hydrogels degraded quickly after incubating in protease XIV solution than in PBS solution at 37 °C. For cultivating 12 days, human mesenchymal stem cells proliferated in SF/SA fibrous hydrogels. These fibrous hydrogels may be useful for biomedical applications due to biocompatibility and the widespread utility of hydrogel systems.

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Acknowledgments

We are gratefully acknowledge the support of the Second Phase of Jiangsu Universities’ Distinctive Discipline Development Program for Textile Science and Engineering of Soochow University, National Science Foundation of China (No. 81271723), and National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk.

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No benefit of any kind will be received either directly or indirectly by the author(s).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The College of Textiles and Fashion, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Jinfa Ming & Fukui Pan

  2. National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China

    Jinfa Ming & Baoqi Zuo

Authors
  1. Jinfa Ming
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  2. Fukui Pan
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  3. Baoqi Zuo
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Correspondence to Jinfa Ming or Baoqi Zuo.

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Ming, J., Pan, F. & Zuo, B. Structure and properties of protein-based fibrous hydrogels derived from silk fibroin and sodium alginate. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 74, 774–782 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-015-3662-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-015-3662-z

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