Preparation and properties of novel human-like collagen-silk fibroin scaffold for blood vessel

Abstract:

In order to improve tensile property of vascular scaffold, we blended silk fibroin with novel human-like collagen with the mass ratio of 9:1, 7:3 and 5:5 (W/W), and then fabricated blood vessel tubular graft by freeze-drying process. We studied microstructure, mechanical properties, elements composites, degradability and biocompatibility of vascular scaffolds. These results showed that tubular scaffold with mass ratio 7:3 exhibited interconnected porous structure with pore size at (60 ± 5) μm and porosity of 85%; achieved the desirable mechanical property (strain of 50% ± 5% and stress of 332 ± 16 kPa); had relatively slow degradation rate; could enhance cell adhesion and proliferation and had superior biocompatibility.