Adhesion, migration and mechanics of human adipose-tissue-derived stem cells on silk fibroin-chitosan matrix

Silk fibroin-chitosan (SFCS) scaffold is a naturally derived biocompatible matrix with potential reconstructive surgical applications. In this study, human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) were seeded on SFCS scaffolds and cell attachment was characterized by fluorescence, confocal, time-lapse, atomic force, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies. Adhesion of ASCs on SFCS was 39.4 +/- 4.8% at 15 min, increasing to 92.8 +/- 1.5% at 120 min. ASC adhered at regions of architectural complexity and infiltrate into three-dimensional scaffold. Time-lapse confocal studies indicated a mean ASC speed on SFCS of 18.47 +/- 2.7 mu m h(-1) and a mean persistence time of 41.4 +/- 9.3 min over a 2.75 h study period. Cytokinetic and SEM studies demonstrated ASC-ASC interaction via microvillus extensions. The apparent elastic modulus was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) for ASCs seeded on SFCS (69.0 +/- 9.0 kPa) than on glass (6.1 +/- 0.4 kPa). Also, cytoskeleton F-actin fiber density was higher (p < 0.05) for ASC seeded on SFCS (0.42 +/- 0.02 fibers mu m(-1)) than on glass-seeded controls (0.24 +/- 0.03 fibers mu m(-1)). Hence, SFCS scaffold facilitates mesenchymal stem cell attachment, migration, three-dimensional infiltration, and cell-cell interaction. This study showed the potential use of SFCS as a local carrier for autologous stem cells for reconstructive surgery application. (C) 2009 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.