A novel three-dimensional tubular scaffold prepared from silk fibroin by electrospinning

Effects of electrospinning parameters (including voltage, collection distance, solution concentration and flow rate) on the morphology and diameter distribution of regenerated SF (silk fibroin) fiber were investigated. Afterward, SF tubular scaffold composed of homogenous fibers was fabricated at voltage of 18 collection distance of 18 cm, concentration of 37%, and flow rate of 0.15 mL/min. After methanol treatment, SF tubular scaffold showed tensile strength of 3.57 MPa and porosity of 80.85%. It is satisfied that work offers a simple method to fabricate seamless and porous tubular scaffold from SF without any additives and organic solvents. Furthermore, the results suggest that this tubular scaffold shows promising applications in small-diameter vascular graft. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.