Investigator developed a protein-based hydrogel platform composed of silk fibroin and tyramine-modified gelatin and investigated the effect of tropoelastin incorporation on vascularization. When cast into 3D structures, the hydrogel supported fibroblast viability and promoted endothelial tube formation, particularly when neonatal human dermal fibroblasts were co-cultured within the matrix.
Incorporation of tropoelastin at a relatively low concentration of 50 μg/mL further promoted fibroblast growth and enhanced neovascularization in vivo without increasing excessive fibrotic response.
