Page 290 - IJB-10-4

International

Journal of Bioprinting

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Polyvinyl alcohol-silk fibroin composite

stents: A comprehensive investigation into
biocompatibility and mechanical performance

Enric Casanova-Batlle 1 id , Maria Ros 2 id , Emma Polonio-Alcalá 2 id ,
Sira Ausellé-Bosch 2 id , Teresa Puig 2 id , Antonio Guerra 3 id ,
and Joaquim Ciurana *
1 id
1 Department of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Construction, Escola Politècnica Superior,
University of Girona, Girona, Catalunya, Spain
2 Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Catalunya,
Spain
3
AMS Department, Eurecat, Technology Centre of Catalonia, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain

Abstract

Bioresorbable stents (BRS) are manufactured using biodegradable materials. As
an alternative to those commonly used in commercial stents, this study explored
the development of BRS using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and silk fibroin (SF). PVA is
a promising material for the fabrication of BRS due to its biocompatibility and
mechanical attributes, closely resembling those of aortic vessels. However, its
application presents challenges in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation. SF has
been extensively studied for its potential to enhance cell adhesion and proliferation,
making it a promising biomaterial in the field of medical devices. SF was introduced
*Corresponding author: by dissolving it in a PVA solution or by coating the hydrogel surface with a layer of
Joaquim Ciurana SF. Initial tests revealed that overnight incubation of fetal bovine serum significantly
(quim.ciurana@udg.edu)
increased cell viability in hydrogels. Viability assays confirmed that SF substantially
Citation: Casanova-Batlle E, improved cell viability compared to PVA alone. The method was extended to fabricate

Ros M, Polonio-Alcalá E, et al. SF-coated stents, which demonstrated robust cell proliferation and improved
Polyvinyl alcohol-silk fibroin
composite stents: A comprehensive performance compared to electrospun polycaprolactone scaffolds. In addition, the
investigation into biocompatibility SF-coated stents displayed an increase in compressive strength, demonstrating
and mechanical performance. improved biocompatibility and mechanical performance. Dynamic mechanical
Int J Bioprint. 2024;10(4):3444.
doi: 10.36922/ijb.3444 analysis evaluated the positive impact of SF on stent properties at physiological
temperatures. The study revealed that PVA-SF stents offer a compromise between
Received: April 18, 2024
Accepted: May 22, 2024 biocompatibility, mechanical strength, and elastic recovery, positioning them as
Published Online: July 10, 2024 a valuable alternative for cardiovascular stent applications. The dual benefits of
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). enhanced biocompatibility and improved mechanical performance make SF-coated
This is an Open Access article stents promising candidates for bioresorbable stent design.
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, Keywords: Silk fibroin; Polyvinyl alcohol; Cardiovascular; Stent
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with 1. Introduction
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Bioresorbable stents (BRS) represent an innovative approach that aims to dissolve once
affiliations. their intended function has been fulfilled. Owing to its potential to mitigate the risks

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 282 doi: 10.36922/ijb.3444