Orientador: Prof. Dr. Wendel Andrade Alves / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do ABC, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nanociências e Materiais Avançados, 2017. / A pesquisa em materiais naturais aumentou notavelmente nos últimos anos devido à oportunidade de combinar biocompatibilidade com propriedades físicas, mecânicas e químicas excepcionais, o que seria árduo para obter seguindo uma rota sintética. Entre estes polímeros naturais, a fibroína de seda é atraente por sua transparência óptica, excelente robustez mecânica e compatibilidade com sistemas vivos, com a formação de produtos de degradação não inflamatória. Neste estudo, fomos capazes de formar hidrogéis translucidos a partir de fibras de seda crua em diferentes concentrações e usamos como matriz para incorporar uma molécula fotossensível : sódio (4,4 ', 4' '- (20- (4- (3-carboxipropanamido ) Fenil) porfirina-5,10,15-triil) tribenzenossulfonato - para uso futuro na terapia fotodinâmica. Os hidrogéis obtidos foram caracterizados por diferentes técnicas de reologia e análise de espectrofotometria para estudar os fatores envolvidos na formação do hidrogel e para obter informações sobre propriedades da fibroína da seda (SF) após a adição da molécula de porfirina na matriz. O conjunto de resultados obtidos mostrou que os hidrogéis SF têm um comportamento de desbaste de cisalhamento, onde a viscosidade do gel diminui com o aumento da taxa de cisalhamento e que pode ser classificado como materiais tixotrópicos, o que significa que a estrutura do material precisa de tempo para se recuperar após a deformação de cisalhamento da experiência. Além disso, observamos que a estrutura secundária da fibroína não é afetado pela adição de porfirina em qualquer concentração, foi confirmado pelo sinal negativo de Cotom em torno de 220 nm nos espectros de dicroísmo circular. As nanofibras de fibroína porfirina híbridas foram capazes de gerar oxigênio singlete após a gelificação, e provamos que os hidrogéis de fibroína de seda são uma excelente matriz para encapsular outras moléculas para aplicação em terapia fotodinâmica e terapia fototérmica, levando à formação de nanoestruturas de péptido auto-montadas com efeitos fototerapêuticos controláveis. / The research in to natural materials has notably increased in recent years due to the opportunity of combining biocompatibility with exceptional physical, mechanical, and chemical properties, which would be arduous to obtain following a synthetic route. Among these natural polymers, silk fibroin is attractive because of its optical transparency, outstanding mechanical robustness and compatibility with living systems, with the formation of non-inflammatory degradation products. In this study, we were capable to form translucid hydrogels from raw silk fibers at different concentrations and used them as matrix to incorporate a photosensitive molecule - sodium (4,4',4''-(20-(4-(3- carboxypropanamido) phenyl) porphyrin-5,10,15-triyl) tribenzenesulfonate - for future use in photodynamic therapy. The obtained hydrogels were characterized by different rheology techniques and spectrophotometry analysis to study the factors that are involved in the formation of the hydrogel, and to have information about silk fibroin (SF) properties after adding the porphyrin molecule to the matrix. The set of obtained results showed that the SF hydrogels have a shear thinning behavior, where the viscosity of the gel decrease whit the increase of the shear rate, and that it can be classified as thixotropic materials. This mean that the structure of the material needs time to recover after experience shear deformation. Also, we observed that the secondary structure of the fibroin is not affected by the addition of porphyrin in any concentration, it was confirmed by the negative Cotton signal around 220 nm in the circular dichroism spectra. The hybrid porphyrin-fibroin nanofibers were capable to generate singlet oxygen after gelification, and we proved that silk fibroin hydrogels are an excellent matrix to encapsulate other molecules to application in photodynamic therapy and photothermal therapy, leading to the formation of selfassembled peptide nanostructures with controllable phototherapeutic effects.

Diversos biomateriais podem ser aplicados na engenharia de tecidos, mas poucos são utilizados em contato direto com células-tronco na forma de suportes de micropartículas, devido à falta de adesão, espalhamento e toxicidade do material, de forma que os tornam inviáveis junto ao cultivo celular. Um biomaterial promissor para bioengenharia é a fibroína, proteína fibrosa presente no casulo do bicho da seda (Bombyx mori), devido à sua resistência mecânica, biocompatibilidade e mínima reação inflamatória, porém, suas caracteristicas são pouco conhecidas na literatura. O mesmo não ocorre com o colágeno que já é bastante estudado por pesquisadores e, assim como a fibroína, apresenta propriedades naturais que incluem baixa resposta imunológica, baixa toxicidade e habilidade de promover o crescimento celular, porém o uso do colágeno em sua maior parte é em forma de filmes, esponjas e membranas. Como existem poucos métodos relacionados para preparação e caracterização de micropartículas em formatos esféricos e porosos, este trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver e caracterizar micropartículas à base de colágeno ou fibroína, tratadas ou não com glutaraldeído (GA), para ser utilizado como suporte para células-tronco mesenquimais e avaliar a citotoxicidade destes materiais em cultura celular.Nos resultados de Calorimetria Exploratória Diferencial para ambos os materiais, colágeno e fibroína quando submetidas a tratamento com GA, a temperatura de desnaturação e degradação aumenta, respectivamente. Na microscopia ótica, eletrônica de varredura e birrefringência, observa-se o aparecimento de rugosidade e poros e/ou bolhas de ar no interior das micropartículas em maior quantidade quando tratadas com GA, o que pode ser um fator positivo para aderência celular no suporte. A porcentagem de água absorvida é maior no colágeno devido às estruturas hidrofóbicas em maior quantidade na fibroína, porém, quando tratadas com GA, a absorção é estabilizada em um curto tempo em ambos os materiais. Os picos nos espectros de FTIR mostram as bandas amidas I, II e III dos materiais e as alterações sofridas quando em contato com GA e os testes de citotoxicidade que ambos materiais tratados ou não, são atóxicos, mas o desenvolvimento celular nas micropartículas de fibroína é mais lento e diminui quando tratados com GA, por possuir mais estruturas ordenadas na forma de -folha quando se necessita de um crescimento mais controlado das células nas micropartículas. / There are several biomaterials can that be used in tissue engineering, but few are used in direct contact with stem cells like scaffold in the microparticle form, because of the lack of adhesion, spreading and toxicity of the biomaterial, in order to make them nonviable in the cell culture. A promising biomaterial for bioengineering is fibroin, a fibrous protein present in the fibers of silkworm (Bombyx mori) cocoon, because of its mechanical strength, biocompatibility and minimal inflammatory reaction; however, little is still described in the literature. Not so with the collagen that is already well studied by researchers and as the fibroin, has natural properties that include low immune response, low toxicity and ability to promote cell growth, but the use of collagen is mostly in form of films, sponges and membranes. As there are few methods reported for preparation and characterization of microparticles in spherical shapes and porous, this study aimed to develop and characterize microparticles based on collagen or fibroin, treated or not with glutaraldehyde (GA), to be used as a support for cells mesenchymal stem cells and evaluating the cytotoxicity of these materials in cell culture.In the results of Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) curves for both materials, collagen and fibroin when subjected to treatment with GA, the denaturation and degradation temperatures increases, respectively. In Optical Microscopy, MSCanning electronic Microscopy and Birefringence results, it is observed the onset of surface roughness and porosity and or air pockets within the microparticles in greater quantity when treated with GA, which may be a positive factor for cell attachment on the support. The percentage of water absorbed is greater in the collagen structures due to more hydrophobic structure than silk fibroin, but when in treated with GA, absorption is stabilized in a shorter time in both materials. The peaks in FTIR spectra show bands amide I, II and III of the materials and the changes suffered when in contact with GA and cytotoxicity tests are non-toxic to both biomaterials treated or not, however, in the growth of cells, the fibroin microparticles is slower and decreases when treated with GA, due to its more ordered structure in the form of -sheet and more spherical than collagen due to its more ordered -sheet structures, which may be very interesting when it needs a more controlled growth of cells on microspheres.

Orientador: Marisa Masumi Beppu / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Quimica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T12:02:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nogueira_GriniaMichelle_D.pdf: 10640071 bytes, checksum: 8b97ea00f684c6df573ea7e1ab6cc530 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: Hidrogéis e filmes de fibroína de seda foram preparados e caracterizados com o objetivo de avaliar sua potencial aplicação no campo de biomateriais. Hidrogéis foram obtidos durante a etapa de diálise da solução de fibroína de seda e suas propriedades físicas, químicas, citotoxicidade e potencial de calcificação in vitro foram determinados. Esses materiais apresentaram estrutura tridimensional porosa com resistência mecânica à compressão relativamente alta e grande potencial de calcificar in vitro, sendo possíveis candidatos à aplicação na área de regeneração óssea. Filmes de fibroína de seda com quitosana foram preparados utilizando-se a técnica "Layer-by-Layer". Com esta técnica, foi possível depositar filmes anisotrópicos, com fibras alinhadas na superfície de substratos de silício. Como os biopolímeros em estudo são conhecidamente biocompatíveis, o alinhamento de fibras na superfície do substrato poderia ser explorado como um meio de guiar a adesão e proliferação celular ou ainda agregar resistência mecânica a outros filmes poliméricos. Filmes de fibroína de seda foram também empregados para recobrir pericárdio bovino utilizado na fabricação de válvulas cardíacas. Amostras recobertas com fibroína de seda foram avaliadas quanto à sua propensão à calcificação in vitro e os filmes foram testados quanto a sua citotoxicidade e potencial de adesão e crescimento de células endoteliais. Os resultados indicaram que filmes de fibroína de seda não apresentam citotoxicidade, são compatíveis com células endoteliais e não induzem a calcificação do pericárdio bovino recoberto durante os testes in vitro. Assim, o recobrimento com fibroína de seda pode ser uma alternativa de tratamento do pericárdio bovino para funcionalização da sua superfície. Dos resultados apresentados, concluiu-se que tanto hidrogéis como filmes derivados de fibroína de seda podem ser aplicados no campo de biomateriais, sejam como matrizes para reconstituição óssea, ou filmes para recobrimento e funcionalização da superfície de materiais. / Abstract: Silk fibroin hydrogels and films were prepared and characterized in order to investigate their potential application in the biomaterials field. The hydrogels were obtained during the dialysis step and their physical and chemical characteristics, cell toxicity and compatibility and potential to calcify in vitro were investigated. Those materials presented a porous tridimensional structure, mechanical strength and ability to deposit calcium phosphate crystals during in vitro calcification tests; therefore, silk fibroin hydrogels can probably be used in the bone regeneration field. Silk fibroin films were obtained by using the Layer-by-Layer technique. Bidirectional alignment of silk fibroin fibers was designed by adjusting the substrate position during the dipping process. A potential application to films with alignment of fibers is to guide cell adhesion and proliferation, since the biopolymers used to build the films are known as biocompatible materials. Silk fibroin films were also used to coat bovine pericardium used to fabricate cardiac valves. The coated samples were characterized by in vitro calcification tests and biocompatibility of silk fibroin films was evaluated by citotoxicity tests and their ability to adhere and grow of endothelial cells. The results showed that silk fibroin films are biocompatible and do not induce calcification during in vitro calcification tests, being suitable to coatand functionalize bovine pericardium surface. From the presented results, it can be concluded that silk fibroin hydrogels and films are suitable materials to be explored in the biomaterials field, for bone regeneration or biomaterials surface coating. / Doutorado / Engenharia de Processos / Doutor em Engenharia Química

The limited reparative capacity of the skin and the inadequacy of conventional treatments have necessitated the development of tissue engineered skin substitutes. Several substitutes, including Integra Dermal Regeneration Template, are finding increasingly widespread application in the treatment of acute and chronic wounds. To date, these substitutes are unable to fully recreate the functionality and aesthetics of skin prior to injury. This thesis applied an integrated approach combining solution preparation, material fabrication control and biological testing to investigate electrospun silk fibroin (SF) nano-microfibrous scaffolds as potential biomimetic skin substitutes. Further to this, the improvement of the existing Integra scaffold through the incorporation of hyaluronan (HA) was assessed. Through rheological analysis of regenerated SF solutions under shear and extensional deformation a concentration regime transition at 20 wt% SF was identified. Solutions with relaxation times under 0.001 seconds were found to be unsuitable for electrospinning. The incorporation of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was found to significantly increase solution relaxation times and extensional viscosity, making them much more suitable for electrospinning. Solution viscoelastic properties were shown to directly influence electrospun fibre morphology, with increases in viscosity resulting in increases in fibre diameter under stable spinning conditions. The effects of electrospinning parameters on electrospun fibre morphologies were investigated using SF-PEO blended solutions. Increased electrical field, spinneret height and decreased flow rate were found to decrease fibre diameter. In vitro assessment of the attachment, spreading, proliferation, viability and gene expression of primary human dermal fibroblasts (PHDFs) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) was conducted. Both PHDFs and BM-MSCs attached and proliferated with greater rapidity on fibres of the smallest diameters (~250-300 nm) with proliferation decreasing as fibre size increased until fibre diameters reached ~1200 nm. Cells were observed to be spread, with multiple attachments between fibres in scaffolds composed of ~250-300 nm diameter fibres. Cells aligned themselves to single fibres in scaffolds composed of fibres greater than 1 micrometre. HA supplementation to Integra resulted in increased proliferation, viability and migration of PHDFs. In ex vivo cutaneous wound healing models, the invasion of Integra was enhanced when scaffolds were supplemented with HA, with increased matrix deposition observed. Optimal supplementation concentrations for in vitro and ex vivo increases in cell proliferation and migration were at 1.5 – 2 mg ml-1 HA. SF electrospun scaffolds facilitated epithelial migration in ex vivo artificial wounds, with the migratory epidermis more closely resembling the structures observed in vivo. Additional preliminary investigations into the efficacy of a paste-form of Integra, Integra Flowable Wound Matrix (IFWM) were performed ex vivo, with cell invasion comparable to the conventional scaffold format. The potential for the incorporation of viable PHDFs and BM-MSCs was also investigated and keratinocyte migration was enhanced in these scaffolds. The results in this thesis provide valuable optimisation information on the development of SF electrospun scaffolds for skin engineering. Additionally, the supplementation of Integra with HA may provide a simple and effective way to enhance the performance of the scaffold in vivo.

A fibroína da seda (SF) é uma proteína fibrosa, com caráter hidrofóbico, produzida pelo bicho-da-seda (Bombyx mori L.), cuja produção e armazenamento ocorre em glândulas especializadas antes do processo de fiação em fibras. Recentemente, soluções de fibroína de seda regenerada (RSF) têm sido utilizadas para formar diferentes materiais tais como géis, membranas, filmes e esponjas, para aplicações médicas (Medicina Regenerativa) e em sistemas de liberação de fármacos. Neste trabalho, procuramos estudar o comportamento da solução RSF 2% com adição de 0,25, 0,5 e 1% de PVA (polímero sintético e hidrofílico) por meio de ensaios de reologia dos géis obtidos (SF:PVA), e caracterização das membranas obtidas por meio da secagem em moldes dos géis. Os ensaios de reologia mostraram uma inversão de módulos, com transição de caráter elástico (G\') para viscoso (G\") para SF1 a 3%, entre 230 e 900% de deformação (\'gama\'); transição de caráter viscoso para elástico para as blendas SF:PVA 0,5 e 1% em ensaio de frequência (\'ômega\'). Com o aumento de temperatura, todas as blendas mantiveram seus comportamentos elástico (SF:PVA 0,25%) e viscoso (SF:PVA 0,5 e 1%) até 49 - 51°C, com transição líquido-gel; o aumento dos módulos G\' e G\"com o resfriamento das amostras ocorreu em todas as blendas. As membranas obtidas das blendas SF:PVA tiveram maior absorção de tampão fosfato salino (PBS) após 5 min de ensaio, no qual a blenda SF:PVA apresentou maiores valores de absorção. A caracterização das membranas por FT-IR ATR e DRX mostrou que ocorreu uma transição de conformação aleatória e hélice \'alfa\' para folha \'beta\', para todas as membranas, indicando que a adição do PVA nas blendas promoveu transições silk I para silk II. Deslocamentos de modo vibracional de 1.637/cm (amida I) para 1.616/cm (amida I) com modo centrado em 1.512/cm (amida II) foram vistos em todas as blendas no FT-IR ATR, e difratogramas apresentaram picos característicos às estruturas silk I (2\'teta\' = 10,12º, 2\'teta\' = 12,2° e 2\'teta\' = 28,2º) e silk II (2\'teta\' = 20 - 21 °1). TGA e DSC mostraram uma interação entre as cadeias de RSF c PVA, pela presença de uma temperatura única ele transição vítrea (Tg) entre RSF e PVA. Imagens AFM das blendas mostraram a presença de estruturas nanofibrilares, em formato de ilhas compactas e ramos, confirmando a transição da fase amorfa de SF 2% para hélice \'alfa\' e folha \'beta\', com a adição do PVA. / Silk fibroin (SF) is a fibrous hydrophobic protein produced by silkworms (Bombyx mori L.), which production and storage occur into specialized glands previously fiber formation. Lately, regenerated silk fibroin (RSF) solutions have been used to produce different materials such as gels, membranes, films and sponges, for medical applications and drug delivery systems. In this study, the RSF with 0.25, 0.5 anel 1% PVA (synthetic and hydrophilic polymer) blends were characterized by rheological tests of the gels (SF:PVA), also membranes produced by casting process were characterized as well. Rheological tests showed moduli inversion with elastic to viscous behavior transition for SF 1 to 3%, between 230 anel 900% of strain (\'gama\'); a transition fram viscous to elastic behavior to SF:PVA 0.5 to 1% blends into frequency sweep tests was observed. With the temperature increment, all blends have kept their viscous anel elastic behavior until 49 - 51°C, and a liquid-gel transition occurred in the SF:PVA 0.5 and 1% blends, as well as all moduli have increased with the cooling stage of the samples. All membranes had the highest buffer absorption after 5 min of test, in which SF:PVA 0.5% blend presented high absorption values. FT-IR spectra and XRD diffractograms showed a transition from random and \'alfa\'-helix to \'beta\'-sheet, for all blends, indicating that PVA addition promotes silk I to silk II transition. Modal shifts were observed from 1.637/cm (amide I) to 1.616/cm (amide I) with a central mode in 1.512/cm (amide II) in all blends in the FT-IR ATR spectra. XRD diffractograms showed characteristic peaks of silk I structures (2\'teta\' = 10,12°, 2\'teta\' = 12,2° e 2\'teta\' = 28,2°) and silk II structures (2\'teta\' = 20 - 21 °1). TGA and DSC studies showed the possibility of interaction between SF and PVA chains by acquirement of mobility at once, at an intermediate temperature between SF anel PVA glass transition (Tg). AFM images exhibited different phases for all membranes, with the presence of nanofibers, wires, rods and branch islands, suggesting the formation of more organized structures, such as and \'alfa\'-helix and \'beta\'-sheet, with PVA addition.

No description available.

Spider silk has received significant attention due to its fascinating mechanical properties. Given the solitary and cannibalistic behavior of spiders, spider silk farming is impractical. Unlike spiders, silkworms are capable of producing large quantities of a fibrous product in a manner mimetic to spiders, and there already exists an industry to process cocoons into threads and textiles for many applications. The combination of silk farming (sericulture), a millennia old practice, and modern advancements in genetic engineering has given rise to an innovative biomaterial inspired by nature; transgenic silkworm silk. This project focuses on the creation of chimeric silkworm-spider silk fibers through the genetic modification of silkworms. Advanced genetic engineering techniques were used to introduce the minor ampullate spider silk (MiSp) genes into the silkworm genome. A subset of these transgenic silkworms was cross-bred with other transgenic silkworms containing the same spider silk gene in a different section of the silkworm genome to create hybrid, dual-transgenic silkworms. The transgenic silk samples showed increased mechanical properties compared to native silkworm fibers, with the strongest fibers approaching or surpassing the mechanical properties of native spider silk. The transgenic silk retained the elasticity of the native silkworm silk and gained the strength of the spider silk. Ultimately, genetic engineering opens the door to mass produce synthetic spider silk in an established organism and industry, and the results of this project demonstrate that the properties of silkworm silk can be predictably altered through this technology.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / A variety of polymers of synthetic origins (e.g., poly(ethylene glycol) or PEG) and naturally derived macromolecules (e.g., silk fibroin or gelatin) have been explored as the backbone materials for hydrogel crosslinking. Purely synthetic hydrogels are usually inert, covalently crosslinked, and have limited degradability unless degradable macromers are synthesized and incorporated into the hydrogel network. Conversely, naturally derived macromers often contain bioactive motifs that can provide biomimicry to the resulting hydrogels. However, hydrogels fabricated from a single macromer often have limitations inherent to the macromer itself. For example, to obtain high modulus PEG-based hydrogels requires an increase in macromer and crosslinker content. This is associated with an increase in radical concentration during polymerization which may cause death of encapsulated cells. Pure gelatin (G) hydrogels have weak mechanical properties and gelatin undergoes thermo-reversible physical gelation. Covalent crosslinking is usually necessary to produce stable gelatin hydrogels, particularly at physiological temperatures. The limitations of these hydrogels may be circumvented by combining them with another macromer (e.g., silk fibroin) to form hybrid hydrogels. Silk fibroin (SF) from Bombyx mori silkworms offers high mechanical strength, slow enzymatic degradability, and can easily form physical hydrogels. The first objective of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of sonication and the presence of synthetic polymer (e.g., poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate or PEGDA) or natural macromer (e.g., gelatin) on SF physical gelation kinetics. SF physical gelation was assessed qualitatively via tilt tests. Gelation of pure SF solutions was compared to mixtures of SF and PEGDA or G, both with or without sonication of SF prior to mixing. The effect of gelatin on SF gelation was also evaluated quantitatively via real time in situ rheometry. Sonication accelerated gelation of SF from days to hours or minutes depending on SF concentration and sonication intensity. Both PEGDA and G were shown to accelerate SF physical gelation when added to SF and sonicated SF (SSF) solutions. The second objective was to develop a simple strategy to modulate covalently crosslinked PEG-based hydrogel properties by physically entrapping silk fibroin. The physical entrapment of silk fibroin provides an alternative method to increase gel storage modulus (G’) without the cytotoxic effect of increasing macromer and crosslinker concentration, or altering degradation kinetics by increasing co-monomer concentration. The effect of SF entrapment on gel physical and mechanical properties, as well as hydrolytic degradation and chemical gelation kinetics were characterized. SF physical crosslinking within the PEG-based network was shown to increase gel storage moduli by two days after gel fabrication. There was no change hydrolytic degradation rate associated with the increased moduli. SF entrapment did not affect gelation efficiency, but did alter gel physical properties. The third objective of this thesis was to develop a silk-gelatin in situ forming hybrid hydrogel for affinity-based growth factor sequestration and release and in vitro cell culture. SF provides mechanical strength and stability, whereas G contains bioactive motifs that can provide biomimicry to the gel network. Hydrogel G’ and its dependency on temperature, SF processing conditions, and secondary in situ chemical crosslinking (i.e., genipin crosslinking) were studied. Gelatin can be conjugated with heparin, a glycosaminoglycan, to impart growth factor (GF) binding affinity. Growth factor sequestration and release were evaluated in a pair of designed experiments. The hybrid gels were evaluated as substrates for human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation.

Spinal cord injury causes the partial or total loss of the anatomical and functional continuity of the spinal cord tissue, leading to the damage of the organs controlled by nerves that branch off downstream the injury. This thesis analyses the mechanics of two possible treatments based on two different approaches: intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) and tissue engineering. These two approaches have a common rationale, the delivery of electrical stimuli to the injured spinal cord. In the literature, the feasibility of the electrodes for ISMS is often limited to the analysis of stiffness. The mechanical validation of the device is then focused on the step after the in vivo implantation, considering the interplay with the surrounding tissue. In this work, the mechanical performance of an innovative intraspinal microstimulation device is evaluated thoroughly before the in vivo step, to avoid the waste of material, animals, and time. The study involves the characterisation of the single components (electrodes), prototypes, and possible failure mechanisms. A work on silk fibroin hydrogels for the regeneration of the spinal cord is also presented. Silk fibroin is a highly versatile material for biomedical purposes, and thus largely used in tissue engineering. Moreover, it has piezolectric properties subjected to micro and nanostructure. Given the proven benefits of electrical stimulation in the regeneration of the spinal cord after injury, different approaches studied in literature often require the use of external devices to generate electrical stimuli. This thesis aims to study the mechanical properties of silk fibroin hydrogels obtained by applying an electric field to silk fibroin solutions, to investigate the eventual increase of the microstructure orientation and consequent improvement of the piezoelectric effects of fibroin.

No description available.