Level D· Preclinical EvidenceAnimal Study

Evaluation of Colombian silk fibroin hydrogels functionalized with recombinant LSECtin for intervertebral disc tissue engineering.

Caballero-Méndez LC., Zuluaga-Vélez A., Melchor-Moncada JJ., Quintero-Martinez A., Mongeau L., Nejati S.

Animal Study on Disc Degeneration, published in PLoS One (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

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Study type
Animal Study
Journal
PLoS One (2026)
Country
United States
Reported sample size
PMID
42139309
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0349634

Abstract (original English)

This study evaluated the potential of Colombian silk fibroin hydrogels functionalized with recombinant LSECtin (rLSECtin) for intervertebral disc tissue engineering. In silico analysis indicated that rLSECtin may interact with glycans similar to those found in human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) through residues Asn105, Asp106, Glu93, Asn87, and Glu85, which coordinate calcium to form hydrogen bonds with GlcNAc hydroxyl groups. rLSECtin was successfully produced, purified, and incorporated into silk fibroin hydrogels. Thermal analysis showed that the hydrogels were resistant to sterilization, and rheological studies demonstrated predominantly elastic, gel-like behavior. The secondary structure of the hydrogels was largely determined by α-helical content, which is related to silk I with β-sheets also contributing as a result of sonication-induced structuring. Metabolic activity assays indicated that rLSECtin was associated with increased ADSC metabolic activity under two-dimensional conditions, whereas hydrogels containing rLSECtin maintained cell viability, as confirmed by cell viability assays. Differentiated constructs exhibited glycosaminoglycan-rich extracellular matrix and chondrocyte-like morphology, whereas rLSECtin-functionalized hydrogels showed increased transcription of SOX9, ACAN, and COL2A1, along with elevated COL10A1 of uncertain significance for nucleus pul

What this study does not prove

  • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
  • This is preclinical work; animal or laboratory results cannot be applied to humans.

Evidence level

Evidence comes from animal or laboratory studies and has not been confirmed in humans.

How we grade evidence
FibroinsHydrogelsTissue EngineeringHumansIntervertebral DiscRecombinant ProteinsAnimalsStem CellsCell SurvivalColombia

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