Muscle-derived stem cells in silk fibroin hydrogels promotes muscle regeneration and angiogenesis in sheep models: an experimental study

A.-Y. Li, X.-Y. Shi, W.-Y. You, W.-F. Yue

College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, China. 20091019@zafu.edu.cn

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• Regenerative Medicine

OBJECTIVE: Silk fibroin (SF) hydrogels are of high interest in tissue engineering. However, angiogenesis is one of the major challenges in tissue regeneration and repair. In this study, we present a simple and effective method to develop a 1,2-Dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylglycerol sodium salt (DMPG)-SF hydrogel. The SF hydrogels had no immunogenicity and approached natural tissues.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SF scaffolds were first prepared from Bombyx mori silkworms and DMPG. The SF scaffold was seeded with muscle-derived stem cells derived from sheep embryo and implanted in the tibialis anterior muscle of mature sheep. Gelation time, H&E staining, and histochemistry were conducted and observed. The suitability of the hydrogels for 3D cell culture was assessed by living cell stain CM-Dil.

RESULTS: The results showed that the SF hydrogels resembled the mechanical properties of natural soft tissues better. The results of H&E staining and histochemistry revealed that the degradation rate showed an S-type change, and muscle regeneration and angiogenesis were clearly visible. Adverse effects were not observed in the sheep models.

CONCLUSIONS: DMPG-induced SF hydrogels can be successfully used for in situ cell encapsulation. It provides promising opportunities in biomedical applications, such as in tissue engineering and regeneration.

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