The physical properties and biocompatibility of modified silk
fibers and native silk fibers were compared using in vitro and
in vivo models. After modification with gelatin, the mechanical
and swelling properties of silk fibers were greatly increased.
More importantly, the low inflammatory potential
and higher biocompatibility of modified silk fibers make them
promising candidates for ligament tissue engineering applications.
Moreover, the modification technique can also be adapted
to coat sericin-free silk fibers with other biocompatible
polysaccharides and growth factors in according with various
tissue engineering requirements.