The study of silk sericin-clay aerogel structure

Abstract

Clay aerogel is light weight, low density and high porosity material produced from bentonite via freeze-drying technique which the morphology is suitable for several biotechnological applications including 3D scaffold. In this study, silk sericin/PVA/clay aerogel, the new material to use as scaffold for tissue engineering, was prosperously prepared. Silk sericin, the glue like protein from silk cocoon, is cooperated with clay aerogel due to the ability to enhance cell growth and cell viability. Silk sericin was extracted from 4 species of traditional Thai silk cocoon; Nang Noi, Nang Lai. Dok Bua and Luang Pairote. Nevertheless, silk sericin/clay aerogel forms fragile material. To over this problem, poly(vinyl alcohol) was employed to improve the mechanical properties. The aim of this study was to prepared silk-sericin/PVA/clay aerogel by freeze-drying technique using glutaraldehyde as cross-linked agent and studied the influence of silk sericin, clay contents, cross-linked agent and species of silk to the properties of the aerogel. The increasing of silk sericin content powerfully increased in thermal and mechanical properties. In contrast, the increasing of clay and glutaraldehyde strongly increased mechanical properties but reduced the thermal stability. Base on in vitro direct contact test and MTT assay using human gingival fibroblast cell, the silk sericin/PVA/clay aerogel can be a good candidate for 3D scaffold for tissue engineering in order to uses in periodontal disease. Additionally, silk sericin content, glutaraldehyde concentration, species of silk and variable of human cell had an influence on the cell viability and mitochondria activities.