Fabrication, Characterization, and Biocompatibility Study of Gelatin-Blended Fibroin Scaffold

Abstract

This research investigates the biocompatibility of gelatin-blended fibroin scaffold fabricated by freeze-dry process. The morphology showed interconnected spongy spheres and polygons shapes with a pore size of 14.144 ± 11.31 and 19.4822 ± 18.71 micrometers, respectively. The formula ratio of fibroin: gelatin of 8:2 contained more random coil, while the formula ratio of fibroin: gelatin of 7:3 exhibited more β-sheet structure. The result revealed that gelatin influences fibroin conformational transition from random coil to beta, which might result from better hydrophobic characteristics. The surface of the formula ratio of fibroin: gelatin at 8:2 and 7:3 was 125.88 ± 9.85 and 130.07 ± 3.72 degrees, indicating the formula ratio of fibroin: gelatin at 7:3 had more hydrophobicity than the formula ratio of fibroin: gelatin at 8:2. The biocompatibility of scaffolds was determined for both formulas of human keratinocyte (HaCaT) and African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell lines by MTT assay. The formula ratio of fibroin: gelatin at 8:2 with various concentrations of 62.50, 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 µg/mL had cell viability percentages of 96.31, 101.74, 97.81, 104.15, and 103.22%, respectively.  The formula ratio of fibroin: gelatin at 7:3 with various concentrations of 62.50, 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 µg/mL had cell viability percentages of 106.38, 104.28, 108.54, 97.42, and 97.65%, respectively. The growth of cell lines showed better performance with the hydrophilic characteristics of the scaffold, and it did not make it toxic to the HaCaT and Vero cell lines. These results demonstrated the possibility of gelatin-blended scaffold as a supporting material for skin tissue engineering, especially for wound healing.