Fiber diameter and texture of electrospun PEOT/PBT scaffolds influence human mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and morphology, and the release of incorporated compounds

Neural differentiation on aligned fullerene C60 nanowhiskers

Highly-aligned fullerene nanowhiskers (C₆₀ NWs) are prepared by a modified liquid–liquid interfacial precipitation method. Neural stem cells on the aligned C₆₀ NWs are oriented and have a high capacity to differentiate into mature neurons.

Electrospun Nanofibers Surface-modified with Fluorescent Proteins

Electrospun nanofiber surfaces are modified with proteins to control protein release. A mixture of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and PCL—PEG block copolymers is electrospun to prepare amine-terminated block copolymers. The amount of surface exposed amine groups increases as the blend ratio of block copolymer increases. Cell attachments on the nanofibers change according to the ratio of the block copolymer in the blend; this indicates that the PEG moiety plays a significant role in enhancing and decreasing biocompatibility of nanofibers. Fluorescent proteins are immobilized on the surface of nanofibers by conjugating activated carboxylic groups of the protein to the surface exposed amine groups of nanofibers in an aqueous environment. The number of amine groups increases as the ratio of block copolymers increases. Proteins that are chemically associated with the nanofibers show an attenuated release profile while most of the proteins physically associated with the nanofibers are released in 1 day. These results show that the protein-immobilized nanofibers can be potentially applied to tissue engineering scaffolds and wound healing materials with bioactive protein being slowly released over a long period of time.

Biomineralization of Engineered Spider Silk Protein-Based Composite Materials for Bone Tissue Engineering

Materials based on biodegradable polyesters, such as poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) or poly(butylene terephthalate-co-poly(alkylene glycol) terephthalate) (PBTAT), have potential application as pro-regenerative scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. Herein, the preparation of films composed of PBT or PBTAT and an engineered spider silk protein, (eADF4(C16)), that displays multiple carboxylic acid moieties capable of binding calcium ions and facilitating their biomineralization with calcium carbonate or calcium phosphate is reported. Human mesenchymal stem cells cultured on films mineralized with calcium phosphate show enhanced levels of alkaline phosphatase activity suggesting that such composites have potential use for bone tissue engineering.

Fabrication of novel high surface area mushroom gilled fibers and their effects on human adipose derived stem cells under pulsatile fluid flow for tissue engineering applications

The fabrication and characterization of novel high surface area hollow gilled fiber tissue engineering scaffolds via industrially relevant, scalable, repeatable, high speed, and economical nonwoven carding technology is described. Scaffolds were validated as tissue engineering scaffolds using human adipose derived stem cells (hASC) exposed to pulsatile fluid flow (PFF). The effects of fiber morphology on the proliferation and viability of hASC, as well as effects of varied magnitudes of shear stress applied via PFF on the expression of the early osteogenic gene marker runt related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) were evaluated. Gilled fiber scaffolds led to a significant increase in proliferation of hASC after seven days in static culture, and exhibited fewer dead cells compared to pure PLA round fiber controls. Further, hASC-seeded scaffolds exposed to 3 and 6dyn/cm(2) resulted in significantly increased mRNA expression of RUNX2 after one hour of PFF in the absence of soluble osteogenic induction factors. This is the first study to describe a method for the fabrication of high surface area gilled fibers and scaffolds. The scalable manufacturing process and potential fabrication across multiple nonwoven and woven platforms makes them promising candidates for a variety of applications that require high surface area fibrous materials.

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

We report here for the first time the successful fabrication of novel high surface area gilled fiber scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Gilled fibers led to a significant increase in proliferation of human adipose derived stem cells after one week in culture, and a greater number of viable cells compared to round fiber controls. Further, in the absence of osteogenic induction factors, gilled fibers led to significantly increased mRNA expression of an early marker for osteogenesis after exposure to pulsatile fluid flow. This is the first study to describe gilled fiber fabrication and their potential for tissue engineering applications. The repeatable, industrially scalable, and versatile fabrication process makes them promising candidates for a variety of scaffold-based tissue engineering applications.

Methods of Monitoring Cell Fate and Tissue Growth in Three-Dimensional Scaffold-Based Strategies for In Vitro Tissue Engineering

In the field of tissue engineering, there is a need for methods that allow assessing the performance of tissue-engineered constructs noninvasively in vitro and in vivo. To date, histological analysis is the golden standard to retrieve information on tissue growth, cellular distribution, and cell fate on tissue-engineered constructs after in vitro cell culture or on explanted specimens after in vivo applications. Yet, many advances have been made to optimize imaging techniques for monitoring tissue-engineered constructs with a sub-mm or μm resolution. Many imaging modalities have first been developed for clinical applications, in which a high penetration depth has been often more important than lateral resolution. In this study, we have reviewed the current state of the art in several imaging approaches that have shown to be promising in monitoring cell fate and tissue growth upon in vitro culture. Depending on the aimed tissue type and scaffold properties, some imaging methods are more applicable than others. Optical methods are mostly suited for transparent materials such as hydrogels, whereas magnetic resonance-based methods are mostly applied to obtain contrast between hard and soft tissues regardless of their transparency. Overall, this review shows that the field of imaging in scaffold-based tissue engineering is developing at a fast pace and has the potential to overcome the limitations of destructive endpoint analysis.

Creating tissues from textiles: scalable nonwoven manufacturing techniques for fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds

Electrospun nonwovens have been used extensively for tissue engineering applications due to their inherent similarities with respect to fibre size and morphology to that of native extracellular matrix (ECM). However, fabrication of large scaffold constructs is time consuming, may require harsh organic solvents, and often results in mechanical properties inferior to the tissue being treated. In order to translate nonwoven based tissue engineering scaffold strategies to clinical use, a high throughput, repeatable, scalable, and economic manufacturing process is needed. We suggest that nonwoven industry standard high throughput manufacturing techniques (meltblowing, spunbond, and carding) can meet this need. In this study, meltblown, spunbond and carded poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nonwovens were evaluated as tissue engineering scaffolds using human adipose derived stem cells (hASC) and compared to electrospun nonwovens. Scaffolds were seeded with hASC and viability, proliferation, and differentiation were evaluated over the course of 3 weeks. We found that nonwovens manufactured via these industry standard, commercially relevant manufacturing techniques were capable of supporting hASC attachment, proliferation, and both adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of hASC, making them promising candidates for commercialization and translation of nonwoven scaffold based tissue engineering strategies.

Inspired smart materials with external stimuli responsive wettability: a review

Recent progress in smart surfaces with responsive wettability upon external stimuli is reviewed and some of the barriers and potentially promising breakthroughs in this field are also briefly discussed.

Reducing bone cancer cell functions using selenium nanocomposites

Cancer recurrence at the site of tumor resection remains a major threat to patient survival despite modern cancer therapeutic advances. Osteosarcoma, in particular, is a very aggressive primary bone cancer that commonly recurs after surgical resection, radiation, and chemotherapeutic treatment. The objective of the present in vitro study was to develop a material that could decrease bone cancer cell recurrence while promoting healthy bone cell functions. Selenium is a natural part of our diet which has shown promise for reducing cancer cell functions, inhibiting bacteria, and promoting healthy cells functions, yet, it has not been widely explored for osteosarcoma applications. For this purpose, due to their increased surface area, selenium nanoparticles (SeNP) were precipitated on a very common orthopedic tissue engineering material, poly-l-lactic acid (or PLLA). Selenium-coated PLLA materials were shown to selectively decrease long-term osteosarcoma cell density while promoting healthy, noncancerous, osteoblast functions (for example, up to two times more alkaline phosphatase activity on selenium coated compared to osteoblasts grown on typical tissue culture plates), suggesting they should be further studied for replacing tumorous bone tissue with healthy bone tissue. Importantly, results of this study were achieved without the use of chemotherapeutics or pharmaceutical agents, which have negative side effects.

Interfacing polymeric scaffolds with primary pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells to develop 3D cancer models

We analyzed the interactions between human primary cells from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and polymeric scaffolds to develop 3D cancer models useful for mimicking the biology of this tumor. Three scaffold types based on two biocompatible polymeric formulations, such as poly(vinyl alcohol)/gelatin (PVA/G) mixture and poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) copolymer, were obtained via different techniques, namely, emulsion and freeze-drying, compression molding followed by salt leaching, and electrospinning. In this way, primary PDAC cells interfaced with different pore topographies, such as sponge-like pores of different shape and size or nanofiber interspaces. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence played by the scaffold architecture over cancerous cell growth and function. In all scaffolds, primary PDAC cells showed good viability and synthesized tumor-specific metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP-2, and MMP-9. However, only sponge-like pores, obtained via emulsion-based and salt leaching-based techniques allowed for an organized cellular aggregation very similar to the native PDAC morphological structure. Differently, these cell clusters were not observed on PEOT/PBT electrospun scaffolds. MMP-2 and MMP-9, as active enzymes, resulted to be increased in PVA/G and PEOT/PBT sponges, respectively. These findings suggested that spongy scaffolds supported the generation of pancreatic tumor models with enhanced aggressiveness. In conclusion, primary PDAC cells showed diverse behaviors while interacting with different scaffold types that can be potentially exploited to create stage-specific pancreatic cancer models likely to provide new knowledge on the modulation and drug susceptibility of MMPs.

Biodegradable PEG-Based Amphiphilic Block Copolymers for Tissue Engineering Applications

Biodegradable tissue engineering scaffolds have great potential for delivering cells/therapeutics and supporting tissue formation. Polyesters, the most extensively investigated biodegradable synthetic polymers, are not ideally suited for diverse tissue engineering applications due to limitations associated with their hydrophobicity. This review discusses the design and applications of amphiphilic block copolymer scaffolds integrating hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) blocks with hydrophobic polyesters. Specifically, we highlight how the addition of PEG results in striking changes to the physical properties (swelling, degradation, mechanical, handling) and biological performance (protein & cell adhesion) of the degradable synthetic scaffolds in vitro. We then perform a critical review of how these in vitro characteristics translate to the performance of biodegradable amphiphilic block copolymer-based scaffolds in the repair of a variety of tissues in vivo including bone, cartilage, skin, and spinal cord/nerve. We conclude the review with recommendations for future optimizations in amphiphilic block copolymer design and the need for better-controlled in vivo studies to reveal the true benefits of the amphiphilic synthetic tissue scaffolds.

Three-Dimensional Bioprinting for Regenerative Dentistry and Craniofacial Tissue Engineering

Craniofacial tissues are organized with complex 3-dimensional (3D) architectures. Mimicking such 3D complexity and the multicellular interactions naturally occurring in craniofacial structures represents one of the greatest challenges in regenerative dentistry. Three-dimensional bioprinting of tissues and biological structures has been proposed as a promising alternative to address some of these key challenges. It enables precise manufacture of various biomaterials with complex 3D architectures, while being compatible with multiple cell sources and being customizable to patient-specific needs. This review describes different 3D bioprinting methods and summarizes how different classes of biomaterials (polymer hydrogels, ceramics, composites, and cell aggregates) may be used for 3D biomanufacturing of scaffolds, as well as craniofacial tissue analogs. While the fabrication of scaffolds upon which cells attach, migrate, and proliferate is already in use, printing of all the components that form a tissue (living cells and matrix materials together) to produce tissue constructs is still in its early stages. In summary, this review seeks to highlight some of the key advantages of 3D bioprinting technology for the regeneration of craniofacial structures. Additionally, it stimulates progress on the development of strategies that will promote the translation of craniofacial tissue engineering from the laboratory bench to the chair side.

Engineering aligned electrospun PLLA microfibers with nano-porous surface nanotopography for modulating the responses of vascular smooth muscle cells

In tissue engineering research, aligned electrospun ultrafine fibers have been shown to regulate cellular alignment and relevant functional expression, but the imposed effect of individual fiber surface nanotopography on cell behaviour has not been examined closely. This work investigates the impact of superimposing a nano-pore feature atop individual fiber surfaces on the responsive behaviour of human vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) for blood vessel tissue engineering. Well-aligned ultrafine poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) microfibers with an average fiber diameter of ca. 1.6 μm were fabricated by using a novel stable jet electrospinning (SJES) method. Ellipse-shaped nano-pores with varied aspect ratios (defined as long-to-short axis ratio) of 2.7-3.9, corresponding to a surface nano-roughness in the range of 54.8-110.0 nm, were in situ generated onto individual fiber surfaces by varying ambient humidity from 45% to 75% during the SJES process. The presence of elliptical nano-pores on fiber surfaces affected the characteristic anisotropic wettability of the aligned PLLA fibers and contributed to greater protein adsorption (up to 17.59 μg mg^-1). A 7 day in vitro assessment of human umbilical arterial SMCs cultured on these aligned nano-porous fiber substrates indicated that cellular responses were in close correlation with the elliptical nano-pore feature. A pronounced fiber surface nanotopography was superior in soliciting favorable cellular responses, leading to enhanced cell attachment, proliferation, alignment, expression of the vascular matrix proteins and maintenance of a contractile phenotype. This study thus suggests that introduction of an elliptical nano-pore feature to the aligned microfiber surfaces could provide additional dimensionality of topographical cues to modulate the vSMC responses when using the aligned electrospun ultrafine fibers for engineering vascular constructs.

Nanofibrous scaffold with incorporated protein gradient for directing neurite outgrowth

Concentration gradient of diffusible bioactive chemicals assumes many important roles in regulating cellular behavior. Among the many factors influencing functional recovery after nerve injury, such as topographical and biochemical signals, concentration gradients of neurotrophic factors provide chemotactic cues for neurite outgrowth and targeted renervation. In this study, a concentration gradient of nerve growth factor (NGF, 0-250 μg/ml) was incorporated throughout the thickness of poly(ε-caprolactone)-poly(ethylene glycol) coaxial electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds (∼700 μm thick with ∼800 nm average fiber diameter). The existence of the protein gradient upon protein release was demonstrated using a customized under-agarose-PC12 neurite outgrowth assay. When exposed to scaffolds endowed with NGF concentration gradient (NGF-CG), a significant difference in the percentage of cells bearing neurite outgrowth was observed (7.1 ± 1.9% vs. 0.8 ± 0.3% for cells exposed to high vs. low concentration surface, respectively; p < 0.05). In contrast, no significant difference was observed when cells were exposed to scaffolds that encapsulated a fixed concentration of NGF. Direct culture of PC12 cells on the substrates demonstrated the cytocompatibility and the effect of diffusible NGF gradient on neurite outgrowth. A significant difference in the percentage of cells with neurite extensions was observed when PC12 cells were seeded on NGF-CG scaffolds (21.2 ± 3.6% vs. 10.4 ± 1.3% on high vs. low concentration surface, respectively; p < 0.05). Furthermore, Z-stack confocal microscopy tracking of neurite extensions revealed the chemotatic guidance effect of NGF concentration gradient. Directed and enhanced neurite penetration into the scaffolds towards increasing NGF concentration was observed. In vitro release study indicated that the encapsulated NGF was released in a sustained manner for at least 30 days (80.4 ± 3.6% released). Taken together, this study demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating concentration gradient of diffusible bioactive chemicals in nanofibrous scaffolds via the coaxial electrospinning technique.

Novel nanoscale topography on poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(ε-caprolactone) electrospun nanofibers modifies osteogenic capacity of ADCs

In this study, we electrospun novel poly(propylene carbonate)/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PPC/PCL) nanofibers with a special nanoscale topography using a simple process.

Differentiation capacity and maintenance of differentiated phenotypes of human mesenchymal stromal cells cultured on two distinct types of 3D polymeric scaffolds

This study shows that the classical validation of hMSC differentiation potential on 3D scaffolds might not be sufficient to ensure the maintenance of the cells functionality in the absence of differentiation inducing soluble factors.

Electrospun fibre diameter, not alignment, affects mesenchymal stem cell differentiation into the tendon/ligament lineage

Efforts to develop engineered tendons and ligaments have focused on the use of a biomaterial scaffold and a stem cell source. However, the ideal scaffold microenvironment to promote stem cell differentiation and development of organized extracellular matrix is unknown. Through electrospinning, fibre scaffolds can be designed with tailorable architectures to mimic the intended tissue. In this study, the effects of fibre diameter and orientation were examined by electrospinning thin mats, consisting of small (< 1 µm), medium (1-2 µm) or large (> 2 µm) diameter fibres with either random or aligned fibre orientation. C3H10T1/2 model stem cells were cultured on the six different electrospun mats, as well as smooth spin-coated films, and the morphology, growth and expression of tendon/ligament genes were evaluated. The results demonstrated that fibre diameter affects cellular behaviour more significantly than fibre alignment. Initially, cell density was greater on the small fibre diameter mats, but similar cell densities were found on all mats after an additional week in culture. After 2 weeks, gene expression of collagen 1α1 and decorin was increased on all mats compared to films. Expression of the tendon/ligament transcription factor scleraxis was suppressed on all electrospun mats relative to spin-coated films, but expression on the large-diameter fibre mats was consistently greater than on the medium-diameter fibre mats. These results suggest that larger-diameter fibres (e.g. > 2 µm) may be more suitable for in vitro development of a tendon/ligament tissue.

Hydrolyzed Poly(acrylonitrile) Electrospun Ion-Exchange Fibers

A potential ion-exchange material was developed from poly(acrylonitrile) fibers that were prepared by electrospinning followed by alkaline hydrolysis (to convert the nitrile group to the carboxylate functional group). Characterization studies performed on this material using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-Transform infra-red spectroscopy, and ion chromatography confirmed the presence of ion-exchange functional group (carboxylate). Optimum hydrolysis conditions resulted in an ion-exchange capacity of 2.39 meq/g. Ion-exchange fibers were used in a packed-bed column to selectively remove heavy-metal cation from the background of a benign, competing cation at a much higher concentration. The material can be efficiently regenerated and used for multiple cycles of exhaustion and regeneration.

Nanoclay-enriched poly(ɛ-caprolactone) electrospun scaffolds for osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Musculoskeletal tissue engineering aims at repairing and regenerating damaged tissues using biological tissue substitutes. One approach to achieve this aim is to develop osteoconductive scaffolds that facilitate the formation of functional bone tissue. We have fabricated nanoclay-enriched electrospun poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds for osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). A range of electrospun scaffolds is fabricated by varying the nanoclay concentrations within the PCL scaffolds. The addition of nanoclay decreases fiber diameter and increases surface roughness of electrospun fibers. The enrichment of PCL scaffold with nanoclay promotes in vitro biomineralization when subjected to simulated body fluid (SBF), indicating bioactive characteristics of the hybrid scaffolds. The degradation rate of PCL increases due to the addition of nanoclay. In addition, a significant increase in crystallization temperature of PCL is also observed due to enhanced surface interactions between PCL and nanoclay. The effect of nanoclay on the mechanical properties of electrospun fibers is also evaluated. The feasibility of using nanoclay-enriched PCL scaffolds for tissue engineering applications is investigated in vitro using hMSCs. The nanoclay-enriched electrospun PCL scaffolds support hMSCs adhesion and proliferation. The addition of nanoclay significantly enhances osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs on the electrospun scaffolds as evident by an increase in alkaline phosphates activity of hMSCs and higher deposition of mineralized extracellular matrix compared to PCL scaffolds. Given its unique bioactive characteristics, nanoclay-enriched PCL fibrous scaffold may be used for musculoskeletal tissue engineering.

Amphiphilic beads as depots for sustained drug release integrated into fibrillar scaffolds

Native extracellular matrix (ECM) is a complex fibrous structure loaded with bioactive cues that affects the surrounding cells. A promising strategy to mimicking native tissue architecture for tissue engineering applications is to engineer fibrous scaffolds using electrospinning. By loading appropriate bioactive cues within these fibrous scaffolds, various cellular functions such as cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation can be regulated. Here, we report on the encapsulation and sustained release of a model hydrophobic drug (dexamethasone (Dex)) within beaded fibrillar scaffold of poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)-poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT), a polyether-ester multiblock copolymer to direct differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The amphiphilic beads act as depots for sustained drug release that is integrated into the fibrillar scaffolds. The entrapment of Dex within the beaded structure results in sustained release of the drug over the period of 28days. This is mainly attributed to the diffusion driven release of Dex from the amphiphilic electrospun scaffolds. In vitro results indicate that hMSCs cultured on Dex containing beaded fibrillar scaffolds exhibit an increase in osteogenic differentiation potential, as evidenced by increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, compared to the direct infusion of Dex in the culture medium. The formation of a mineralized matrix is also significantly enhanced due to the controlled Dex release from the fibrous scaffolds. This approach can be used to engineer scaffolds with appropriate chemical cues to direct tissue regeneration.

Electrospun soy protein nanofiber scaffolds for tissue regeneration

Electrospun fibers with an average fiber diameter in the nanometer range were prepared from soy protein isolate to develop scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Poly(ethylene oxide) was added to facilitate fiber formation. The influence of processing parameters such as applied voltage, soy protein isolate and poly(ethylene oxide) concentrations, and poly(ethylene oxide) molecular weight on electrospun fiber morphology was investigated. Resulting soy protein isolate/poly(ethylene oxide) mats were carbodiimide crosslinked to increase construct robustness. Mechanical properties and in vitro biocompatibility of crosslinked electrospun scaffolds were evaluated. Soy protein isolate/poly(ethylene oxide) fiber diameters ranged between 50 and 270 nm depending on both electrospinning and solution parameters. The Young's modulus for 7% soy protein isolate/3% poly(ethylene oxide) and 12% soy protein isolate/3% poly(ethylene oxide) electrospun scaffolds were 75 and 252 kPa, respectively. Human mesenchymal stem cell studies showed successful cell adhesion and proliferation on the soy protein isolate/poly(ethylene oxide) fibers. The structural and biological properties of these soy protein isolate electrospun scaffolds suggest their potential applications in tissue engineering.

Scaffold architecture controls insulinoma clustering, viability, and insulin production

Recently, in vitro diagnostic tools have shifted focus toward personalized medicine by incorporating patient cells into traditional test beds. These cell-based platforms commonly utilize two-dimensional substrates that lack the ability to support three-dimensional cell structures seen in vivo. As monolayer cell cultures have previously been shown to function differently than cells in vivo, the results of such in vitro tests may not accurately reflect cell response in vivo. It is therefore of interest to determine the relationships between substrate architecture, cell structure, and cell function in 3D cell-based platforms. To investigate the effect of substrate architecture on insulinoma organization and function, insulinomas were seeded onto 2D gelatin substrates and 3D fibrous gelatin scaffolds with three distinct fiber diameters and fiber densities. Cell viability and clustering was assessed at culture days 3, 5, and 7 with baseline insulin secretion and glucose-stimulated insulin production measured at day 7. Small, closely spaced gelatin fibers promoted the formation of large, rounded insulinoma clusters, whereas monolayer organization and large fibers prevented cell clustering and reduced glucose-stimulated insulin production. Taken together, these data show that scaffold properties can be used to control the organization and function of insulin-producing cells and may be useful as a 3D test bed for diabetes drug development.

Artificial neural network for modeling the elastic modulus of electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin scaffolds

Scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE) require the consideration of multiple aspects, including polymeric composition and the structure and mechanical properties of the scaffolds, in order to mimic the native extracellular matrix of the tissue. Electrospun fibers are frequently utilized in TE due to their tunable physical, chemical, and mechanical properties and porosity. The mechanical properties of electrospun scaffolds made from specific polymers are highly dependent on the processing parameters, which can therefore be tuned for particular applications. Fiber diameter and orientation along with polymeric composition are the major factors that determine the elastic modulus of electrospun nano- and microfibers. Here we have developed a neural network model to investigate the simultaneous effects of composition, fiber diameter and fiber orientation of electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin mats on the elastic modulus of the scaffolds under ambient and simulated physiological conditions. The model generated might assist bioengineers to fabricate electrospun scaffolds with defined fiber diameters, orientations and constituents, thereby replicating the mechanical properties of the native target tissue.

Two-stage desorption-controlled release of fluorescent dye and vitamin from solution-blown and electrospun nanofiber mats containing porogens

In the present work, a systematic study of the release kinetics of two embedded model drugs (one completely water soluble and one partially water soluble) from hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanofiber mats was conducted. Fluorescent dye Rhodamine B was used as a model hydrophilic drug in controlled release experiments after it was encapsulated in solution-blown soy-protein-containing hydrophilic nanofibers as well as in electrospun hydrophobic poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-containing nanofibers. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), a partially water-soluble model drug, was also encapsulated in hydrophobic PET-containing nanofiber mats, and its release kinetics was studied. The nanofiber mats were submerged in water, and the amount of drug released was tracked by fluorescence intensity. It was found that the release process saturates well below 100% release of the embedded compound. This is attributed to the fact that desorption is the limiting process in the release from biopolymer-containing nanofibers similar to the previously reported release from petroleum-derived polymer nanofibers. Release from monolithic as well as core-shell nanofibers was studied in the present work. Moreover, to facilitate the release and ultimately to approach 100% release, we also incorporated porogens, for example, poly(ethylene glycol), PEG. It was also found that the release rate can be controlled by the porogen choice in nanofibers. The effect of nanocracks created by leaching porogens on drug release was studied experimentally and evaluated theoretically, and the physical parameters characterizing the release process were established. The objective of the present work is a detailed experimental and theoretical investigation of controlled drug release from nanofibers facilitated by the presence of porogens. The novelty of this work is in forming nanofibers containing biodegradable and biocompatible soy proteins to facilitate controlled drug release as well as in measuring detailed quantitative characteristics of the desorption processes responsible for release of the model substance (fluorescent dye) and the vitamin (riboflavin) in the presence of porogens.

Engineered nanotopography on electrospun PLLA microfibers modifies RAW 264.7 cell response

In this study, we created a new method of electrospinning capable of controlling the surface structure of individual fibers (fiber nanotopography). The nanotopographical features were created by a phase separation in the fibers as they formed. To control the phase separation, a nonsolvent (a chemical insoluble with the polymer) was added to an electrospinning solution containing poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) and chloroform. The nanotopography of electrospun fibers in the PLLA/chloroform solution was smooth. However, adding a small weight (<2% of total solution) of a single nonsolvent (water, ethanol, or dimethyl sulfoxide) generated nanoscale depressions on the surface of the fibers unique to the nonsolvent added. Additionally, nanoscale depressions on electrospun fibers were observed to change with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) concentration in the PLLA/chloroform solution. A nonlinear relationship was found between the concentration of DMSO and the number and size of nanotopographical features. The surface depressions did not alter the hydrophobicity of the scaffold or degradation of the scaffold over a two-day period. To determine if fiber nanotopography altered cell behavior, macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) were cultured on fibers with a smooth nanotopography or fibers with nanoscale depressions. RAW 264.7 cells spread less on fibers with nanoscale depressions than fibers with a smooth topography (p<0.05), but there were no differences between groups with regard to cell metabolism or the number of adherent cells. The results of this study demonstrate the necessity to consider the nanotopography of individual fibers as these features may affect cellular behavior. More importantly, we demonstrate a versatile method of controlling electrospun fiber nanotopography.

Corrugated round fibers to improve cell adhesion and proliferation in tissue engineering scaffolds

Optimal cell interaction with biomaterial scaffolds is one of the important requirements for the development of successful in vitro tissue-engineered tissues. Fast, efficient and spatially uniform cell adhesion can improve the clinical potential of engineered tissue. Three-dimensional (3-D) solid free form fabrication is one widely used scaffold fabrication technique today. By means of deposition of polymer fibers, scaffolds with various porosity, 3-D architecture and mechanical properties can be prepared. These scaffolds consist mostly of solid round fibers. In this study, it was hypothesized that a corrugated fiber morphology enhances cell adhesion and proliferation and therefore leads to the development of successful in vitro tissue-engineered constructs. Corrugated round fibers were prepared and characterized by extruding poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)-co-poly(butylene terephthalate) (300PEOT55PBT45) block co-polymer through specially designed silicon wafer inserts. Corrugated round fibers with 6 and 10 grooves on the fiber surface were compared with solid round fibers of various diameters. The culture of mouse pre-myoblast (C2C12) cells on all fibers was studied under static and dynamic conditions by means of scanning electron microscopy, cell staining and DNA quantification. After 7days of culturing under static conditions, the DNA content on the corrugated round fibers was approximately twice as high as that on the solid round fibers. Moreover, under dynamic culture conditions, the cells on the corrugated round fibers seemed to experience lower mechanical forces and therefore adhered better than on the solid round fibers. The results of this study show that the surface architecture of fibers in a tissue engineering scaffold can be used as a tool to improve the performance of the scaffold in terms of cell adhesion and proliferation.

Plug and play: combining materials and technologies to improve bone regenerative strategies

Despite recent advances in the development of biomaterials intended to replace natural bone grafts for the regeneration of large, clinically relevant defects, most synthetic solutions that are currently applied in the clinic are still inferior to natural bone grafts with regard to regenerative potential and are limited to non-weight-bearing applications. From a materials science perspective, we always face the conundrum of the preservation of bioactivity of calcium phosphate ceramics in spite of better mechanical and handling properties and processability of polymers. Composites have long been investigated as a method to marry these critical properties for the successful regeneration of bone and, indeed, have shown a significant improvement when used in combination with cells or growth factors. However, when looking at this approach from a clinical and regulatory perspective, the use of cells or biologicals prolongs the path of new treatments from the bench to the bedside. Applying 'smart' synthetic materials alone poses the fascinating challenge of instructing tissue regeneration in situ, thereby tremendously facilitating clinical translation. In the journey to make this possible, and with the aim of adding up the advantages of different biomaterials, combinations of fabrication technologies arise as a new strategy for generating instructive three-dimensional (3D) constructs for bone regeneration. Here we provide a review of recent technologies and approaches to create such constructs and give our perspective on how combinations of technologies and materials can help in obtaining more functional bone regeneration.

Materiomics: an -omics approach to biomaterials research

The past fifty years have seen a surge in the use of materials for clinical application, but in order to understand and exploit their full potential, the scientific complexity at both sides of the interface--the material on the one hand and the living organism on the other hand--needs to be considered. Technologies such as combinatorial chemistry, recombinant DNA as well as computational multi-scale methods can generate libraries with a very large number of material properties whereas on the other side, the body will respond to them depending on the biological context. Typically, biological systems are investigated using both holistic and reductionist approaches such as whole genome expression profiling, systems biology and high throughput genetic or compound screening, as already seen, for example, in pharmacology and genetics. The field of biomaterials research is only beginning to develop and adopt these approaches, an effort which we refer to as "materiomics". In this review, we describe the current status of the field, and its past and future impact on the biomedical sciences. We outline how materiomics sets the stage for a transformative change in the approach to biomaterials research to enable the design of tailored and functional materials for a variety of properties in fields as diverse as tissue engineering, disease diagnosis and de novo materials design, by combining powerful computational modelling and screening with advanced experimental techniques.

Combining technologies to create bioactive hybrid scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

Combining technologies to engineer scaffolds that can offer physical and chemical cues to cells is an attractive approach in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this study, we have fabricated polymer-ceramic hybrid scaffolds for bone regeneration by combining rapid prototyping (RP), electrospinning (ESP) and a biomimetic coating method in order to provide mechanical support and a physico-chemical environment mimicking both the organic and inorganic phases of bone extracellular matrix (ECM). Poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)-poly(buthylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) block copolymer was used to produce three dimensional scaffolds by combining 3D fiber (3DF) deposition, and ESP, and these constructs were then coated with a Ca-P layer in a simulated physiological solution. Scaffold morphology and composition were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled to energy dispersive X-ray analyzer (EDX) and Fourier Tranform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Bone marrow derived human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs) were cultured on coated and uncoated 3DF and 3DF + ESP scaffolds for up to 21 d in basic and mineralization medium and cell attachment, proliferation, and expression of genes related to osteogenesis were assessed. Cells attached, proliferated and secreted ECM on all the scaffolds. There were no significant differences in metabolic activity among the different groups on days 7 and 21. Coated 3DF scaffolds showed a significantly higher DNA amount in basic medium at 21 d compared with the coated 3DF + ESP scaffolds, whereas in mineralization medium, the presence of coating in 3DF+ESP scaffolds led to a significant decrease in the amount of DNA. An effect of combining different scaffolding technologies and material types on expression of a number of osteogenic markers (cbfa1, BMP-2, OP, OC and ON) was observed, suggesting the potential use of this approach in bone tissue engineering.