Cell growth and desorption on the surface of temperaturesensitive semi-IPNs hydrogels based on silk sericin

Semi-interpenetrating (semi-IPNs) hydrogels containing biocompatible silk sericin (SS) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(PNIPAM) were prepared as novel cellular matrices. Their maximum swelling degree and basic characteristics for biomedical applications such as mouse fibroblasts (L929) cell proliferation and desorption were investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of high hydrophilic SS into PNIPAM hydrogel increased the maximum swelling degree of the semi-IPNs hydrogels, and the adhesion and growth of the L929 on semi-IPNs hydrogels were at least comparable to, or even better than, that on conventional PNIPAM hydrogel. In addition, L929 cells were found to detach from the hydrogels surface naturally by controlling environmental temperature. These results suggest great potential of semi-IPNs hydrogels in tissue engineering.