Microstructure of the silk fibroin-based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavata

Abstract Due to the unique properties of the silk fibroin (SF) made from silkworm, SF-based hydrogels have recently received significant attention for various biomedical applications. However, research on the SF-based hydrogels isolated from spider silks has been rtricted due to the limited collecti...

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Main Authors: Yan Sun, Bon-Jin Ku, Myung-Jin Moon
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-02-01
Series:Applied Microscopy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s42649-024-00096-x
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author Yan Sun
Bon-Jin Ku
Myung-Jin Moon
author_facet Yan Sun
Bon-Jin Ku
Myung-Jin Moon
author_sort Yan Sun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Due to the unique properties of the silk fibroin (SF) made from silkworm, SF-based hydrogels have recently received significant attention for various biomedical applications. However, research on the SF-based hydrogels isolated from spider silks has been rtricted due to the limited collection and preparation of naïve silk materials. Therefore, this study focused on the microstructural characteristics of hydrogel scaffolds derived from two types of woven silk glands: the major ampullate gland (MAG) and the tubuliform gland (TG), in the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavate. We compared these spider glands with those of the silk fibroin (SF) hydrogel scaffold extracted from the cocoon of the insect silkworm Bombyx mori. Our FESEM analysis revealed that the SF hydrogel has high porosity, translucency, and a loose upper structure, with attached SF fibers providing stability. The MAG hydrogel displayed even higher porosity, as well as elongated fibrous structures, and improved mechanical properties: while the TG hydrogel showed increased porosity, ridge-like or wall-like structures, and stable biocapacity formed by physical crosslinking. Due to their powerful and versatile microstructural characteristics, the MAG and TG hydrogels can become tailored substrates, very effective for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
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spelling doaj.art-4c0b8c6a5b5c4ee19454977954aea93f2024-03-06T08:07:50ZengSpringerOpenApplied Microscopy2287-44452024-02-015411910.1186/s42649-024-00096-xMicrostructure of the silk fibroin-based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavataYan Sun0Bon-Jin Ku1Myung-Jin Moon2Department of Biological Sciences, Dankook UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Dankook UniversityDepartment of Biological Sciences, Dankook UniversityAbstract Due to the unique properties of the silk fibroin (SF) made from silkworm, SF-based hydrogels have recently received significant attention for various biomedical applications. However, research on the SF-based hydrogels isolated from spider silks has been rtricted due to the limited collection and preparation of naïve silk materials. Therefore, this study focused on the microstructural characteristics of hydrogel scaffolds derived from two types of woven silk glands: the major ampullate gland (MAG) and the tubuliform gland (TG), in the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavate. We compared these spider glands with those of the silk fibroin (SF) hydrogel scaffold extracted from the cocoon of the insect silkworm Bombyx mori. Our FESEM analysis revealed that the SF hydrogel has high porosity, translucency, and a loose upper structure, with attached SF fibers providing stability. The MAG hydrogel displayed even higher porosity, as well as elongated fibrous structures, and improved mechanical properties: while the TG hydrogel showed increased porosity, ridge-like or wall-like structures, and stable biocapacity formed by physical crosslinking. Due to their powerful and versatile microstructural characteristics, the MAG and TG hydrogels can become tailored substrates, very effective for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.https://doi.org/10.1186/s42649-024-00096-xMicrostructureHydrogelScaffoldSilkSpider
spellingShingle Yan Sun
Bon-Jin Ku
Myung-Jin Moon
Microstructure of the silk fibroin-based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavata
Applied Microscopy
Microstructure
Hydrogel
Scaffold
Silk
Spider
title Microstructure of the silk fibroin-based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavata
title_full Microstructure of the silk fibroin-based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavata
title_fullStr Microstructure of the silk fibroin-based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavata
title_full_unstemmed Microstructure of the silk fibroin-based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavata
title_short Microstructure of the silk fibroin-based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb-web spider Trichonephila clavata
title_sort microstructure of the silk fibroin based hydrogel scaffolds derived from the orb web spider trichonephila clavata
topic Microstructure
Hydrogel
Scaffold
Silk
Spider
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s42649-024-00096-x
work_keys_str_mv AT yansun microstructureofthesilkfibroinbasedhydrogelscaffoldsderivedfromtheorbwebspidertrichonephilaclavata
AT bonjinku microstructureofthesilkfibroinbasedhydrogelscaffoldsderivedfromtheorbwebspidertrichonephilaclavata
AT myungjinmoon microstructureofthesilkfibroinbasedhydrogelscaffoldsderivedfromtheorbwebspidertrichonephilaclavata