A pilot study of macrophage responses to silk fibroin particles

• Published in: Journal of biomedical materials research. Part A Vol. 101A; no. 5; pp. 1511 - 1517
• Main Authors: Cui, Xidong, Wen, Jianchuan, Zhao, Xia, Chen, Xin, Shao, Zhengzhong, Jiang, Jack J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.05.2013; Wiley-Blackwell
• Subjects: Animals; Biocompatibility; Biocompatible Materials - chemistry; Biocompatible Materials - metabolism; Biodegradability; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical materials; Cell Line; Culture; cytokine; fibroin; Fibroins - chemistry; Fibroins - immunology; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; in vitro; inflammation; Interleukin-1beta - genetics; Interleukin-1beta - immunology; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Interleukin-6 - immunology; macrophage; Macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - metabolism; Medical sciences; Mice; Particle Size; Raw; RNA, Messenger - genetics; silk; Silk fibroin; Stimulation; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical implants; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Biological properties; Cytokine; Inflammation; In vitro; Protein; Particle; Silk; Natural fiber; Animal fiber; Biocompatibility; Biomaterial; Fibroin; Biomedical engineering; Macrophage
• DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.34444
• ISSN: 1549-3296

Silk fibroin (SF) shows promise for tissue engineering and other biomedical applications due to its excellent biocompatibility, unique biomechanical properties, and controllable biodegradability. The particulate form of SF materials may have many potential uses, including the use as a filler for tissue defects or as a controlled‐release agent for drug delivery. However, many past in vivo and in vitro studies evaluating the biocompatibility and biodegradability of SF have involved bulk implants. It is essential to evaluate the inflammatory effects of SF particles before further use. In this study, two different sizes of SF particles were evaluated to assess their impact on the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, and IL‐6, in comparison with lipopolysaccharide positive control stimulation. The inflammatory processes were characterized using real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and light microscopy evaluations. The results indicated that small silk fibroin particles and large silk fibroin particles, in culture with RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells for 24 h, caused up‐regulation of mRNA coding for TNF‐α, which indicated that both size of particles have potential inflammatory effects. There was a statistically significant increase in this up‐regulation under small silk fibroin stimulation. However, the immunosorbent assay suggested that there was virtually no observed release of IL‐1β, IL‐6, or TNF‐α, relative to the control group. The results suggest that SF particles of the chosen dimensions may have good biocompatibility in culture with RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A, 2013.