ATTACHMENT AND GROWTH OF FIBROBLAST CELLS ON SILK FIBROIN

The attachment and growth of fibroblast cells (L-929) on matrices of s ilk fibroin from Bombyx mori domestic silkworm (DSF) and Antheraea per nyi wild silkworm (WSF) were studied by a cell culture method. The per formance of the two kinds of silk fibroin was compared to that of coll agen. DSF exhibited as high a cell attachment and growth as collagen d id. The cells attached to DSF were extensively spread out and their fi lopodia were visible in the SEM pictures. WSF, which contains the trip eptide sequence Arg-Gly-Asp (believed to be a specific interaction sit e for cell-attachment), displayed much higher cell attachment and grow th compared to DSF. The cells attached on WSF became virtually flat an d their filopodia could be seen, indicating that the cells were very s trongly held on the surface. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.