Assessment of physico-chemical and biological properties of sericin-collagen substrates for PNS regeneration

Peripheral nerve injuries may lead to a significant function loss, which deeply affect patient’s quality of life. In this context, tissue engineered collagen-based nerve guides are a promising alternative to autografts. To enhance the regeneration of the injured nerve tract, several bioactive molecules can be adopted as further components of the collagen-based conduits. Herein, sericin (Ser), a waste product of textile industry, was combined with type I collagen (Col), for the development of a bioactive substrate potentially able to support and enhance the regeneration of the peripheral nervous system. In particular, in order to identify an optimal substrate composition in terms of physicochemical and biological properties, thin Ser-Col films with different Ser:Col ratios were produced by air-drying and subsequently crosslinked through two different crosslinking methods. Then, Ser:Col films were characterized from a physicochemical point of view by examining secondary protein structure modifications via FTIR spectroscopy, swelling ratios, degradation rates and Ser release kinetics. Moreover, Ser:Col films ability to promote adhesion and proliferation of Schwann cells was evaluated in vitro. The results obtained in this study, although preliminary, suggest that Ser:Col blends could represent a promising strategy to enhance the repair of damaged peripheral nerves, by providing a sustained release of Ser from collagen-based nerve substrates.