Ionic Liquid-Assisted Synthesis of Mesoporous Silk Fibroin/Silica Hybrids for Biomedical Applications

authors	Pereira, RFP; Zehbe, K; Gunter, C; dos Santos, T; Nunes, SC; Paz, FAA; Silva, MM; Granja, PL; Taubert, A; Bermudez, VD
nationality	International
journal	ACS OMEGA
keywords	BOMBYX-MORI SILK; SHIFT CONTOUR PLOTS; I STRUCTURE; BIOMATERIAL SCAFFOLDS; CHIMERIC PROTEINS; BIOACTIVE GLASSES; SILICA FIBERS; FILMS; NMR; COMPOSITES
abstract	New mesoporous silk fibroin (SF)/silica hybrids were processed via a one-pot soft and energy-efficient sol-gel chemistry and self-assembly from a silica precursor, an acidic or basic catalyst, and the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, acting as both solvent and mesoporosity-inducer. The as-prepared materials were obtained as slightly transparent-opaque, amorphous monoliths, easily transformed into powders, and stable up to ca. 300 degrees C. Structural data suggest the formation of a hexagonal mesostructure with low range order and apparent surface areas, pore volumes, and pore radii of 205-263 m(2) g(-1), 0.16-0.19 cm(3) g(-1), and 1.2-1.6 nm, respectively. In all samples, the dominating conformation of the SF chains is the beta-sheet. Cytotoxicity/bioactivity resazurin assays and fluorescence microscopy demonstrate the high viability of MC3T3 pre-osteoblasts to indirect (>= 99 +/- 9%) and direct (78 +/- 2 to 99 +/- 13%) contact with the SF/silica materials. Considering their properties and further improvements, these systems are promising candidates to be explored in bone tissue engineering. They also offer excellent prospects as electrolytes for solid-state electrochemical devices, in particular for fuel cells.
publisher	AMER CHEMICAL SOC
issn	2470-1343
year published	2018
volume	3
issue	9
beginning page	10811
ending page	10822
digital object identifier (doi)	10.1021/acsomega.8b02051
web of science category	Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
subject category	Chemistry
unique article identifier	WOS:000446186000039