Insights into the material properties of dragline spider silk affecting Schwann cell migration

Aida Naghilou (Korresp. Autor*in), Karolina Peter, Flavia Millesi, Sarah Stadlmayr, Sonja Wolf, Anda Rad, Lorenz Semmler, Paul Supper, Leon Ploszczanski, Jiliang Liu, Manfred Burghammer, Christian Riekel, Alexander Bismarck, Ellen H.G. Backus, Helga Lichtenegger, Christine Radtke

Veröffentlichungen: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelPeer Reviewed

Abstract

Dragline silk of Trichonephila spiders has attracted attention in various applications. One of the most fascinating uses of dragline silk is in nerve regeneration as a luminal filling for nerve guidance conduits. In fact, conduits filled with spider silk can measure up to autologous nerve transplantation, but the reasons behind the success of silk fibers are not yet understood. In this study dragline fibers of Trichonephila edulis were sterilized with ethanol, UV radiation, and autoclaving and the resulting material properties were characterized with regard to the silk's suitability for nerve regeneration. Rat Schwann cells (rSCs) were seeded on these silks in vitro and their migration and proliferation were investigated as an indication for the fiber's ability to support the growth of nerves. It was found that rSCs migrate faster on ethanol treated fibers. To elucidate the reasons behind this behavior, the fiber's morphology, surface chemistry, secondary protein structure, crystallinity, and mechanical properties were studied. The results demonstrate that the synergy of dragline silk's stiffness and its composition has a crucial effect on the migration of rSCs. These findings pave the way towards understanding the response of SCs to silk fibers as well as the targeted production of synthetic alternatives for regenerative medicine applications.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer125398
FachzeitschriftInternational Journal of Biological Macromolecules
Jahrgang244
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 31 Juli 2023

ÖFOS 2012

  • 106002 Biochemie
  • 106023 Molekularbiologie
  • 104019 Polymerwissenschaften

Fingerprint

Untersuchen Sie die Forschungsthemen von „Insights into the material properties of dragline spider silk affecting Schwann cell migration“. Zusammen bilden sie einen einzigartigen Fingerprint.

Zitationsweisen