Functionalization of Electrospun Scaffolds with Gold or Silver Nanoparticles for Applications in Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

The biocomposite materials development based on polymeric fibrillar structures functionalized with metal nanostructures are visualized as alternative strategies to facilitate tissue connection bridges in the engineering of cardiovascular tissues. Based on it, the purpose of the present investigation sought to functionalize silk fibroin electrospun membranes extracted from Colombian sericultural wastes with gold or silver nanoparticles synthesized by green chemical reduction method, estimating their biocompatible characteristics through interaction with an in vitro model of human fetal ventricular cardiomyocytes RL-14. The biocomposite material was characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron and field emission microscopy. Besides, bright field microscopy was used to evaluate the adhesion and proliferation of cardiomyocytes RL-14. The results showed that the use of silk fibroin extracted from sericultural wastes favored the formation of AuNPs-SF
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and AgNPs-SF
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acting it as a reducing agent and surfactant forming a micellar structure around individual nanoparticles. Moreover, it was possible to obtain SFR/PEO membranes, which, being functionalized with nanoparticles, allowed the development of composite materials by layers. Finally, the use of three-dimensional protein structures functionalized with gold nanoparticles promoted cell attachment sites and favored the cytocompatible response.