Phosphorylation of silk fibroins improves the cytocompatibility of silk fibroin derived materials: a platform for the production of tuneable material

Silk fibroin demonstrates great biocompatibility and is suitable for many biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Current research focuses on manipulating the physico-chemical properties of fibroin, and examining the effect of this manipulation on firobin's biocompatibility. Regenerated silk fibroin was modified by in vitro enzymatic phosphorylation and cast into films. Films were produced by blending, at several ratios, the phosphorylated and un-phosphorylated fibroin solutions. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy was used to determine the specific P–OH vibration peak, confirming the phosphorylation of the regenerated silk fibroin solution. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that phosphorylation altered the intra- and inter-molecular interactions. Further experiments demonstrated that phosphorylation can be used to tailor the hydrophylicity/hydrophobicity ratio as well as the crystalinity of silk fibroin films. Release profiling of a model drug was highly dependent on silk modification level. Cytotoxicity assays showed that exposure to lixiviates of phosphorylated films only slightly affected cellular metabolism and proliferation, although direct contact resulted in a strong direct correlation between phosphorylation level and cell proliferation. This new method for tuning silk biomaterials to obtain specific structural and biochemical features can be adapted for a wide range of applications. Phosphorylation of silk fibroins may be applied to improve the cytocompatibility of any silk-based device that is considered to be in contact with live animals or human tissues.The authors would like to acknowledge the support granted to the authors by European NOVO Project, contract no. FP7-HEALTH 2011-two-stage 278402

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Not AvailableAbstract Yellow mosaic disease caused by tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus is very severe and causing 100 per cent yield loss under epiphytotic conditions. Chemical control of this disease is neither economical nor eco-friendly and genetic resistance is an efcient means for its management. Resistance to yellow mosaic disease in advanced inbred line IIHR-Sel-1 and IIHR-137 have been confrmed during screening experiment. A crossing programme was planned using Arka Prasan as susceptible and IIHR-Sel-1 and IIHR-137 as resistant parents. We used the F1, F2, BC1 and BC2 generations derived from the two crosses viz. Arka Prasan×IIHR-Sel-1 and Arka Prasan×IIHR 137 to study the inheritance of resistance to yellow mosaic disease. Results indicated monogenic recessive resistance to yellow mosaic disease in the genetic background of both parents which need to be confrmed through repeated experiments with large population size. These results are imperative for breeding yellow mosaic disease resistant cultivars in Lufa species.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAn experiment was conducted to study the genetics and nature of gene action of resistance to watermelon bud necrosis orthotospovirus (WBNV) in watermelon. The experimental materials comprised of two resistant (BIL‐53 and IIHR‐19) and one susceptible (IIHR‐140) parents. Each of the resistant parents was crossed with the susceptible parent to develop six generations (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) to study genetics. The results of segregation in F2 and backcross progenies suggested that resistance is governed by a major dominant gene along with other background minor genes in both the crosses. BIL‐53 was found to possess higher degree of resistance with simple inheritance and hence may be of interest to breeders. Simple selection can be effective for improving the trait in the cross BIL‐53 × IIHR‐140 as additive gene action is prevalent