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2019
Journal Article
Titel
Controlling the Multiscale Structure of Nanofibrous Fibrinogen Scaffolds for Wound Healing
Abstract
As a key player in blood coagulation and tissue repair, fibrinogen has gained increasing attention to develop nanofibrous biomaterial scaffolds for wound healing. Current techniques to prepare protein nanofibers, like electrospinning or extrusion, are known to induce lasting changes in the protein conformation. Often, such secondary changes are associated with amyloid transitions, which can evoke unwanted disease mechanisms. Starting from our recently introduced technique to self-assemble fibrinogen scaffolds in physiological salt buffers, we here investigated the morphology and secondary structure of our novel fibrinogen nanofibers. Aiming at optimum self-assembly conditions for wound healing scaffolds, we studied the influence of fibrinogen concentration and pH on the protein conformation. Using circular dichroism and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, we observed partial transitions from a-helical structures to v-strands upon fiber formation. Interestingly, a staining with thioflavin T revealed that this conformational transition was not associated with any amyloid formation. Toward novel scaffolds for wound healing, which are stable in aqueous environment, we also introduced cross-linking of fibrinogen scaffolds in formaldehyde vapor. This treatment allowed us to maintain the nanofibrous morphology while the conformation of fibrinogen nanofibers was redeveloped toward a more native state after rehydration. Altogether, self-assembled fibrinogen scaffolds are excellent candidates for novel wound healing systems since their multiscale structures can be well controlled without inducing any pathogenic amyloid transitions.
Author(s)
Stapelfeldt, Karsten
Institute for Biophysics, University of Bremen, Otto-Hahn-Allee 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Walter, Irina
Institute for Biophysics, University of Bremen, Otto-Hahn-Allee 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Suter, Naiana
Institute for Biophysics, University of Bremen, Otto-Hahn-Allee 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany
Michaelis, Monika
Hybrid Materials Interfaces Group, University of Bremen, Am Fallturm 1, 28359 Bremen, Germany