Biomedical applications of silkworm (Bombyx Mori) proteins in regenerative medicine (a narrative review).

Silk worm (Bombyx Mori) protein, have been considered as potential materials for a variety of advanced engineering and biomedical applications for decades. Recently, silkworm silk has gained significant importance in research attention mainly because of its remarkable and exceptional mechanical properties. Silk has already been shown to have unique interactions with cells in tissues through bio-recognition units. The natural silk contains fibroin and sericin and has been used in various tissues of the human body (skin, bone, nerve, and so on). Besides, silk also still has anti-cancer, anti-tyrosinase, anti-coagulant, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic properties. This article is supposed to describe the diverse biomedical capabilities of B. Mori silk as the appropriate biomaterial among the assorted natural and artificial polymers that are presently accessible, and ideal for usage in regenerative medicine fields.

Short-term culture of human neonatal myofibroblasts seeded using a novel three-dimensional rotary seeding device.

A crucial factor in the tissue engineering of heart valves is an effective cell seeding with uniform cell distribution on biodegradable scaffolds to eventually form functional tissue constructs in vitro. In our laboratory, we developed a new cell-seeding device for optimal cell distribution for tissue-engineered heart valve constructs. In the present study, we developed a new cell-seeding device made of acrylic glass that is completely transparent (University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany). The polymeric heart valve scaffold is fixed in a small-volume, cylindrical cell-seeding chamber, and is surrounded by optimal cell suspension. The cell-seeding chamber is placed in a clear acrylic bowl so that it can be rotated in all directions to provide optimal cell distribution to all areas of the heart valve construct. We thus developed a highly isolated cell-seeding device that is driven by an independently developed rotating machine consisting of two independent motors (University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany). The whole system provides a high level of sterility and fits into a humidified incubator. Our newly developed cell-seeding device enables sterile conditions and optimal cell distribution for the controlled fabrication of autologous tissue-engineered heart valve constructs.

Glycosaminoglycan polymerization may enable osmotically inactive Na+ storage in the skin.

Osmotically inactive skin Na(+) storage is characterized by Na(+) accumulation without water accumulation in the skin. Negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) may be important in skin Na(+) storage. We investigated changes in skin GAG content and key enzymes of GAG chain polymerization during osmotically inactive skin Na(+) storage. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a 0.1% or 8% NaCl diet for 8 wk. Skin GAG content was measured by Western blot analysis. mRNA content of key dermatan sulfate polymerization enzymes was measured by real-time PCR. The Na(+) concentration in skin was determined by dry ashing. Skin Na(+) concentration during osmotically inactive Na(+) storage was 180-190 mmol/l. Increasing skin Na(+) coincided with increasing GAG content in cartilage and skin. Dietary NaCl loading coincided with increased chondroitin synthase mRNA content in the skin, whereas xylosyl transferase, biglycan, and decorin content were unchanged. We conclude that osmotically inactive skin Na(+) storage is an active process characterized by an increased GAG content in the reservoir tissue. Inhibition or disinhibition of GAG chain polymerization may regulate osmotically inactive Na(+) storage.