Abstract
The present work reports on the synthesis and biomineralization capacity of hydrogel networks composed of Bombyx mori silk fibroin, polyacrylamide and carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes soaked in simulated body fluid. Hydrogels were fabricated by the polymerization of acrylamide and N,N’-methylenebisacrylamide in silk fibroin solution containing carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes with potassium persulphate/triethanol amine redox system as initiator. The incorporation of the fibroin and MWCNT-COOH within the polymer network was proved by FTIR spectroscopy. Swelling measurements in saline solution were performed to evaluate the behaviour of these hydrogels having various compositions. Biomineralization assays in simulated body fluid solution showed the presence of apatite-like crystals onto the surface of the materials. Beneficial effects upon biomeralization process of the carboxylated nanotubes were further discussed. Mechanical compressive tests revealed good strengths for the silk hydrogels depending on their composition. The results of this study lay down the fundament for the use of these silk fibroin biomaterials in bone tissue engineering applications. Keywords: silk fibroin, carbon nanotubes, biomineralization, apatite, compressive strength