A novel silk fibroin scaffolds with oriented multichannels

Silk fibroin (SF) scaffold with uniaxial channels was prepared by directional temperature field freezing technique. The scaffold morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy and structures of the scaffold were examined by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) analysis. The results indicated that beta-sheet content of the scaffolds with oriented channels was more than that of control group. The directional growth of ice crystal could shear and draft to the silk fibroin molecule segments, which resulted in the new crystal nucleus formation in new zone and increase of beta-sheet component. Dependent on this approach, the new oriented multichannel scaffolds were fabricated. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.