除了自体和异体移植外,利用生物相容性材料辅助中枢神经系统损伤后的修复成为最具开发潜力的方法之一。以来源于家蚕和柞蚕的再生丝素蛋白纳米纤维网作为星形胶质细胞的生长基质,研究星形胶质细胞在其上的粘附、生长、增殖和迁移等生命活动。结果显示星形胶质细胞在两种材料上表现出很高的相容性,星形胶质细胞在丝素蛋白纳米纤维网上具有正常的粘附、增殖和迁移等行为。更重要的是,通过实时显微摄像跟踪细胞的生长与迁移行为,发现星形胶质细胞的生长与迁移表现出很强的丝素蛋白纳米纤维依赖性,星形胶质细胞在丝素纤维上生长铺展并且沿着纤维进行迁移,纤维的走向决定着细胞的迁移轨迹。实验证明,丝素蛋白纳米纤维不仅能够支持星形胶质细胞的生长,而且对星形胶质细胞的迁移运动还有引导作用,这些特点使得再生丝素蛋白纳米纤维网成为极具开发潜力的神经组织工程替代物。
In addition to homografts and xenografts, the use of nerve prostheses that are made of biocompatible materials could be one of the most applicable therapeutical approaches to central nerve system repair. In the present study, using biocompatible silk fibroin (SF) from bombyx mori and tussah silk, we prepared non-woven nanofibers (SF nanofibers) and analyzed the behavior of astrocytes grown on these nanofibers. Results showed that astrocytes displayed a high affinity to SF nanofibers: they grew in paralelle along the fibers and exhibited a well-arranged GFAP expression. When part of the cell bodies was in a direction perpendicular to the nanofibers, sharp turns were observed, forming a clear border between ceils and surroundings where the fibers were possibly enwrapped. Moreover, time-lapse video analysis showed that astrocytes randomly migrated the first several hours after plating. Once they came in contact with a fiber, they kept migrating using the fiber as a rail. Taken together, these data indicate that, not only do the regenerated silk fibroin nanofibers control the growth of astrocytes but lead the migration of these cells as well, making these materials the promising candidates for therapeutic approaches to promote the regeneration of CNS after injury.