Silk fibroin/kappa-carrageenan composite scaffolds with enhanced biomimetic mineralization for bone regeneration applications

The combination of protein-polysaccharide in scaffolding together with the ability to induce bone-like apatite formation has become a promising approach to mimic extracellular matrix composition. In the present study, we developed and characterized new bioactive composite scaffolds from kappa-carrageenan/silk fibroin for bone regeneration applications. Three dimensional (3D) scaffolds were fabricated by adding various amounts of carrageenan to a silk fibroin solution, followed by freeze-drying. Various characterization techniques were applied to analyze such items as the structure, morphology, compressive strength, and bone-like apatite mineralization of the composites, which were then compared to those of pure fibroin scaffolds. The results demonstrated the formation of a highly porous structure with interconnected pores. The mean pore size and porosity both increased by increasing carrageenan content. Moreover, the addition of carrageenan to silk fibroin led to the formation of a bone-like apatite layer throughout the scaffolds after 7 days of soaking them in simulated body fluid. Osteoblast-like cell (MG 63) culture experiments indicated that all scaffolds are biocompatible. The cells attached well to the surfaces of all scaffolds and tended to join their adjacent cells. However, higher carrageenan content led to better cellular proliferation and higher Alkaline phosphatase expression. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.