The biocompatibility of silk fibroin films containing sulfonated silk fibroin

Sulfonation reaction may be an effective method for preparation of heparin-like materials. However, no sulfonated polymer based on protein backbone was used for improving the blood compatibility of biomaterials. In this study, the biocompatibility of new kind of composite materials films obtained by blending silk fibroin (SF) with sulfonated silk fibroin (SSF) was evaluated. The anticoagulant activity was characterized with prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and thrombin time (TT), which all increased remarkably, the clot times exceeded the measurement limit of clot detection instrument. Its platelet adhesion was also investigated as another parameter of blood compatibility. The cell compatibility of composite films was evaluated through cell morphologies on the films and cell viability by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Tensile strength and elongation at break of the composite films reached to 44.6 MPa and 50.3%, respectively. All these results indicated that SF/SSF composite film was a potential material for blood-contact materials and tissue engineering matrix.