Human bone marrow stromal cell and ligament fibroblast responses on RGD-modified silk fibers

Adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and collagen matrix production of human bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) on an RGD‐modified silk matrix was studied. Anterior cruciate ligament fibroblasts (ACLFs) were used as a control cell source. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and MTT analyses demonstrated that the modified silk matrices support improved BMSC and ACLF attachment and show higher cell density over 14 days in culture when compared with the non‐RGD‐modified matrices. Collagen type I transcript levels (at day 7) and content (at day 14) was significantly higher on the RGD‐modified substrate than on the nonmodified group. The ability of RGD‐coupled silk matrices to support BMSC attachment, which leads to higher cell density and collagen matrix production in vitro, combined with mechanical, fatigue, and biocompatibility properties of the silk protein matrix, suggest potential for use of this biomaterial for tissue engineering. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 67A: 559–570, 2003