Fig 1.
Chemical structure of the polyelectrolytes used.
(a) Silk Fibroin, (b) Alginate.
Fig 2.
Diagram showing the deposition of ALG and RSF to create 1.5 to 9.5 polyelectrolyte bilayers on SF fabric followed by 75% ethanol treatment.
Fig 3.
Laminar flow system designed to simulate blood flow.
Fig 4.
Relationship between the charges of the polyelectrolyte solutions and the pH values.
Zeta potential measurements for blue label RSF solution, red label ALG solution.
Fig 5.
ATR-FTIR spectra of SF fabric and self-assembled (ALG/RSF)9.5 SF fabric treated using 75% ethanol.
Fig 6.
AFM images of silicon wafers and fabrics.
(a) Untreated silicon wafer, (b) (ALG/RSF)1.5 silicon wafer, (c) (ALG/RSF)5.5 silicon wafer, (d) (ALG/RSF)9.5 silicon wafer, (e) SF fabric, (f) (ALG/RSF)1.5 SF fabric, (g) (ALG/RSF)5.5 SF fabric, and (h) (ALG/RSF)9.5 SF fabric.
Fig 7.
The RI and surface curve of the (ALG/RSF)n fabrics self-assembled layer-by-layer on silicon wafers.
Table 1.
The difference of peak/valley on (ALG/RSF)n silicon wafers.
Fig 8.
The thickness of the self-assembled (ALG/RSF)n layers on silicon wafers.
Blue label represents the unflushed thickness, and red label represents the flushed thickness.
Fig 9.
TG and DTG of SF fabric and self-assembled (ALG/RSF)9.5 silk fibroin fabric.
Fig 10.
Bursting strength of SF fabric and self-assembled SF fabrics.
(**) indicates significant differences of p<0.01 compared with SF fabric.
Fig 11.
Proliferation of PIECs on SF fabric and (ALG/RSF)n layer-by-layer self-assembled SF fabrics.
Significant differences are marked by (*) for p<0.05 and (**) for p<0.01 compared with TCPs.
Fig 12.
Confocal images of the PIECs on TCPs, SF fabrics and self-assembled (ALG/RSF)n SF fabrics with the cell nuclei stained with DAPI (Blue) and F-actin stained with phalloidin-TRITC (Red).
(a) TCPs cultured for 1 day, (b) SF fabric cultured for 1 day, (c) self-assembled (ALG/RSF)1.5 SF fabric cultured for 1 day, (d) self-assembled (ALG/RSF)9.5 SF fabric cultured for 1 day, (e) TCPs cultured for 3 days, (f) SF fabric cultured for 3 days, (g) self-assembled (ALG/RSF)1.5 SF fabric cultured for 3 days, and (h) self-assembled (ALG/RSF)9.5 SF fabric cultured for 3 days. The scale bar is 50 μm.
Fig 13.
SEM photomicrographs of SF fabric and self-assembled (ALG/RSF)n SF fabrics after exposure to a PRP/PPP mixture solution.
(a) SF fabric, (b) self-assembled (ALG/RSF)1.5 SF fabric, (c) self-assembled (ALG/RSF)5.5 SF fabric, and (d) self-assembled (ALG/RSF)9.5 SF fabric.
Fig 14.
Mean haemolytic assay results.
HRBCs exposed to the SF fabrics and self-assembled (ALG/RSF)n SF fabrics (1.5, 3.5, 5.5, 7.5, and 9.5 bilayers) are compared with those exposed to PBS solution (negative control, NC) and water (positive control, PC). Mean data for each sample (n = 3). Significant differences are marked by (**) for p<0.01 compared with the positive control.
Table 2.
Haemolysis percentage (HP) of SF fabric and (ALG/RSF)n self-assembled SF fabrics.