Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The growth behaviors of cells on the biomaterials scaffold may be affected by the topography, pore size, wettability, porosity and other factors.
OBJECTIVE: This research is aimed to observe the growth and proliferation of Schwann cells in silk fibroin scaffolds with different pore sizes.
METHODS: Two kinds of silk fibroin scaffolds with different pore sizes were prepared, including a large pore size scaffold (pore size 50-60 μm) and a small pore size scaffold (pore size 10-20 μm). Schwann cells (R3 [33-10ras3]) served as seed cells and incubated in 37 ℃, 5% CO2 incubation box. When cells filled up the culture bottle bottom and formed a dense monolayer, they were digested and the cell concentration adjusted, then Schwann cells were seeded onto the surface of the porous silk fibroin scaffolds with different pore sizes. After seven days of co-culture, the growth and proliferation of Schwann cells were observed under scanning electron microscope.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The growth of Schwann cells on the surface of silk fibroin scaffolds with different pore sizes was varied. On the surface of small pore size scaffold (10-20 µm), the cell density was low, while the phenotype of cells was bipolar, cells arranged in parallel or linked as the cell chains. On the surface of large pore size scaffold (50-60 µm), more cells could be seen, but most of the cells were in the shape of single sphere, cells clustered on the surface of the porous scaffold or aggregated as a bunch of grape at the bottom of pores. Only few cells were bipolar and lied on the ridge between the pores. The result showed that the pore size of porous silk fibroin scaffolds is an influential factor for the growth and adhesion of Schwann cells. Schwann cells are conducive to grow on the scaffolds with pore size larger than cell body diameter.