Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 February 2011
Electrospinning for the formation of nanoscale diameter fibers has been explored for high performance filters and biomaterial scaffolds for vascular grafts or wound dressings. Fibers with nanoscale diameters provide benefits due to high surface area. In this study we used electrospinning for protein-based biomaterials to fabricate scaffolds from aqueous regenerated silkworm silk, Bombyx mori,. Adhesion, spreading and proliferation of human bone marrow stem cells (hBMSCs) on electrospun silk was characterized. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and MTT analyses demonstrated that the electrospun silk matrices promoted hBMSC attachment and proliferation over 10 days in culture. The responses of the hBMSCs on the electrospun silk matrices, combined with the biocompatibile properties of the silk fibroin protein matrix, suggest potential for use of this biomaterial as scaffolds for tissue engineering.