Polysaccharide base electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering: Challenges and opportunities

Polysaccharides, known as naturally abundant macromolecular materials which can be easily modified chemically, have always attracted scientists' interest due to their outstanding properties in tissue engineering. Moreover, their intrinsic similarity to cartilage ECM components, biocompatibility, and non-harsh processing conditions make polysaccharides an excellent option for cartilage tissue engineering. Imitating the natural ECM structure to form a fibrous scaffold at the nanometer scale in order to recreate the optimal environment for cartilage regeneration has always been attractive for researchers in the past few years. However, there are some challenges for polysaccharides electrospun nanofibers preparation, such as poor solubility (Alginate, cellulose, chitin), high viscosity (alginate, chitosan, and Hyaluronic acid), high surface tension, etc. Several methods are reported in the literature for facing polysaccharide electrospinning issues, such as using carrier polymers, modification of polysaccharides, and using different solvent systems. In this review, considering the importance of polysaccharide-based electrospun nanofibers in cartilage tissue engineering applications, the main achievements in the past few years, and challenges for their electrospinning process are discussed. After careful investigation of reported studies in the last few years, alginate, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, and cellulose were chosen as the main polysaccharide base electrospun nanofibers used for cartilage regeneration.

Gelatin/EGDE Ultrafine Composite Fibers Reinforced with 3D Spacer Fabric as Bicomponent Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering

Protein-based ultrafine fibrous scaffolds can mimic the native extracellular matrices (ECMs) with regard to the morphology and chemical composition but suffer from poor mechanical and wet stability. As a result, cells cannot get a true three-dimensional (3D) environment as they find in native ECMs. In this study, an epoxide, ethylene glycol diglycidylether (EGDE), with high reactivity to active hydrogen is introduced to gelatin solution, serving as an effective cross-linker. The gelatin/EGDE 3D-ultrafine (∼500 nm in diameter) fibrous composite scaffolds are made by an ultralow-concentration phase separation technique (ULCPS). The effects of the polymer content and modification conditions on the morphology and wet stability of the constructs are investigated. It is revealed that ultrafine fibers with 3D random orientation could be formed at low concentrations (0.01, 0.05, and 0.1 wt %, respectively). The wet stability of the constructs could be effectively improved by introducing EGDE into the gelatin system. The shrinkage is reduced to merely 2.14% after the modification at 120 °C for 2 h and could be maintained for up to 3 days. In order to improve the compression properties, the same technique is utilized with the presence of a poly(lactic acid) (PLA) spacer fabric to produce a bicomponent scaffold. The mechanical property and cell viability of the bicomponent scaffolds are investigated, and it is found that cells could enter deep inside and orient themselves randomly at the central area of the bicomponent scaffold. The modification and design approach presented in this study has the potential to provide various protein-based ultrafine fibrous biomaterials for a variety of biomedical applications.

Repairing rat calvarial defects by adipose mesenchymal stem cells and novel freeze-dried three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds

Introduction: Treatment of critical-sized bone defects is challenging. Tissue engineering as a state-of-the-art method has been concerned with treating these non-self-healing bone defects. Here, we studied the potentials of new three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds (3DNS) with and without human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) for reconstructing rat critical-sized calvarial defects (CSCD). Methods: Scaffolds were made from 1- polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (PTFE/ PVA group), and 2- PTFE, PVA, and graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticle (PTFE/ PVA/GO group) and seeded by ADSCs and incubated in osteogenic media (OM). The expression of key osteogenic proteins including Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), collagen type Iα (COL Iα), osteocalcin (OCN), and osteonectin (ON) at days 14 and 21 of culture were evaluated by western blot and immunocytochemistry methods. Next, 40 selected rats were assigned to five groups (n=8) to create CSCD which will be filled by scaffolds or cell-containing scaffolds. The groups were denominated as the following order: Control (empty defects), PTFE/PVA (PTFE/PVA scaffolds implant), PTFE/PVA/GO (PTFE/PVA/GO scaffolds implant), PTFE/PVA/Cell group (PTFE/PVA scaffolds containing ADSCs implant), and PTFE/PVA/GO/Cell group (PTFE/PVA/GO scaffolds containing ADSCs implant). Six and 12 weeks after implantation, the animals were sacrificed and bone regeneration was evaluated using computerized tomography (CT), and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. Results: Based on the in-vitro study, expression of bone-related proteins in ADSCs seeded on PTFE/PVA/GO scaffolds were significantly higher than PTFE/PVA scaffolds and TCPS (P<0.05). Based on the in-vivo study, bone regeneration in CSCD were filled with PTFE/PVA/GO scaffolds containing ADSCs were significantly higher than PTFE/PVA scaffolds containing ADSCs (P<0.05). CSCD filled with cell-seeded scaffolds showed higher bone regeneration in comparison with CSCD filled with scaffolds only (P<0.05). Conclusion: The data provided evidence showing new freeze-dried nanofibrous scaffolds formed from hydrophobic (PTFE) and hydrophilic (PVA) polymers with and without GO provide a suitable environment for ADSCs due to the expression of bone-related proteins. ADSCs and GO in the implanted scaffolds had a distinct effect on the bone regeneration process in this in-vivo study.

Engineering Biomimetic Extracellular Matrix with Silica Nanofibers: From 1D Material to 3D Network

Biomaterials at nanoscale is a fast-expanding research field with which extensive studies have been conducted on understanding the interactions between cells and their surrounding microenvironments as well as intracellular communications. Among many kinds of nanoscale biomaterials, mesoporous fibrous structures are especially attractive as a promising approach to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) for cell and tissue research. Silica is a well-studied biocompatible, natural inorganic material that can be synthesized as morpho-genetically active scaffolds by various methods. This review compares silica nanofibers (SNFs) to other ECM materials such as hydrogel, polymers, and decellularized natural ECM, summarizes fabrication techniques for SNFs, and discusses different strategies of constructing ECM using SNFs. In addition, the latest progress on SNFs synthesis and biomimetic ECM substrates fabrication is summarized and highlighted. Lastly, we look at the wide use of SNF-based ECM scaffolds in biological applications, including stem cell regulation, tissue engineering, drug release, and environmental applications.

Novel trends, challenges and new perspectives for enamel repair and regeneration to treat dental defects

Dental enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body, providing external protection for the tooth against masticatory forces, temperature changes and chemical stimuli. Once enamel is damaged/altered by genetic defects, dental caries, trauma, and/or dental wear, it cannot repair itself due to the loss of enamel producing cells following the tooth eruption. The current restorative dental materials are unable to replicate physico-mechanical, esthetic features and crystal structures of the native enamel. Thus, development of alternative approaches to repair and regenerate enamel defects is much needed but remains challenging due to the structural and functional complexities involved. This review paper summarizes the clinical aspects to be taken into consideration for the development of optimal therapeutic approaches to tackle dental enamel defects. It also provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging acellular and cellular approaches proposed for enamel remineralization and regeneration. Acellular approaches aim to artificially synthesize or re-mineralize enamel, whereas cell-based strategies aim to mimic the natural process of enamel development given that epithelial cells can be stimulated to produce enamel postnatally during the adult life. The key issues and current challenges are also discussed here, along with new perspectives for future research to advance the field of regenerative dentistry.

Conformal Fabrication of an Electrospun Nanofiber Mat on a 3D Ear Cartilage-Shaped Hydrogel Collector Based on Hydrogel-Assisted Electrospinning

Electrospinning is a common and versatile process to produce nanofibers and deposit them on a collector as a two-dimensional nanofiber mat or a three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic arrangement. However, 3D electroconductive collectors with complex geometries, including protruded, curved, and recessed regions, generally caused hampering of a conformal deposition and incomplete covering of electrospun nanofibers. In this study, we suggested a conformal fabrication of an electrospun nanofiber mat on a 3D ear cartilage-shaped hydrogel collector based on hydrogel-assisted electrospinning. To relieve the influence of the complex geometries, we flattened the protruded parts of the 3D ear cartilage-shaped hydrogel collector by exploiting the flexibility of the hydrogel. We found that the suggested fabrication technique could significantly decrease an unevenly focused electric field, caused by the complex geometries of the 3D collector, by alleviating the standard deviation by more than 70% through numerical simulation. Furthermore, it was experimentally confirmed that an electrospun nanofiber mat conformally covered the flattened hydrogel collector with a uniform thickness, which was not achieved with the original hydrogel collector. Given that this study established the conformal electrospinning technique on 3D electroconductive collectors, it will contribute to various studies related to electrospinning, including tissue engineering, drug/cell delivery, environmental filter, and clothing.

Carbon Nanomaterials Embedded in Conductive Polymers: A State of the Art

Carbon nanomaterials are at the forefront of the newest technologies of the third millennium, and together with conductive polymers, represent a vast area of indispensable knowledge for developing the devices of tomorrow. This review focusses on the most recent advances in the field of conductive nanotechnology, which combines the properties of carbon nanomaterials with conjugated polymers. Hybrid materials resulting from the embedding of carbon nanotubes, carbon dots and graphene derivatives are taken into consideration and fully explored, with discussion of the most recent literature. An introduction into the three most widely used conductive polymers and a final section about the most recent biological results obtained using carbon nanotube hybrids will complete this overview of these innovative and beyond belief materials.

A simple, green chemistry technology for fabrication of tissue-engineered scaffolds based on mussel-inspired 3D centrifugal spun

The fabrication of 3D fibrous scaffolds with highly interconnected pores has been crucial in the development of tissue regeneration techniques. The present study describes the fabrication of 3D fibrous scaffolds by freeze-drying of polydopamine (PDA) coated centrifugal spun gelatin fibers. We wanted to combine the mussel-inspired chemistry, Maillard reaction, and the 3D microstructural advantages of centrifugal spun fibers to develop the green fibrous scaffolds at low cost, high speed, and desired mold shape. The resultant PDA-gelatin fibers exhibited a smooth 3D microstructure with a uniform formation of PDA thin ad-layer that enhanced the mechanical properties and stability of the scaffolds, and thereby decreased the degradation rate. All scaffolds showed promising properties including good dimensional and mechanical stability under wet state, optimal porosity over 94%, and high water uptake of approximately 1500%. The results of cell culture studies, further confirmed that all scaffolds exhibited appropriate biocompatibility, cell proliferation, migration, and infiltration. Particularly, the PDA-coated scaffolds showed a significant enhancement in proliferation, migration, and infiltration of HDF-GFP⁺ cells. These results show that a 3D porous fibrous scaffold with simplifying tunable density and desirable shape on a large scale can be readily prepared for different fields of tissue engineering applications.

Recent Advances in Scaffolding from Natural-Based Polymers for Volumetric Muscle Injury

Volumetric Muscle Loss (VML) is associated with muscle loss function and often untreated and considered part of the natural sequelae of trauma. Various types of biomaterials with different physical and properties have been developed to treat VML. However, much work remains yet to be done before the scaffolds can pass from the bench to the bedside. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest developments in the construction and application of natural polymers-based tissue scaffolding for volumetric muscle injury. Here, the tissue engineering approaches for treating volumetric muscle loss injury are highlighted and recent advances in cell-based therapies using various sources of stem cells are elaborated in detail. An overview of different strategies of tissue scaffolding and their efficacy on skeletal muscle cells regeneration and migration are presented. Furthermore, the present paper discusses a wide range of natural polymers with a special focus on proteins and polysaccharides that are major components of the extracellular matrices. The natural polymers are biologically active and excellently promote cell adhesion and growth. These bio-characteristics justify natural polymers as one of the most attractive options for developing scaffolds for muscle cell regeneration.

The electrospinning of a thermo-responsive polymer with peptide conjugates for phenotype support and extracellular matrix production of therapeutically relevant mammalian cells

Current cell expansion methods for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications rely on the use of enzymatic digestion passaging and 2D platforms. However, this enzymatic treatment significantly reduces cell quality, due to the destruction of important cell-surface proteins. In addition, culture in 2D results in undesired de-differentiation of the cells caused by the lack of 3D similarity to the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) environment. Research has led to the development of thermo-responsive surfaces for the continuous culture of cells. These thermo-responsive materials properties can be used to passage cells from the surface when the cell culture temperature is reduced. Here we report the development of a PLA/thermo-responsive (PDEGMA) blend 3D electrospun fibre-based scaffold to create an enzymatic-free 3D cell culture platform for the expansion of mammalian cells with the desired phenotype for clinical use. Human corneal stromal cells (hCSCs) were used as an exemplar as they have been observed to de-differentiate to an undesirable myo-fibroblastic phenotype when cultured by conventional 2D cell culture methods. Scaffolds were functionalised with a cell adherence peptide sequence GGG-YIGSR by thiol-ene chemistry to improve cell adherence and phenotype support. This was obtained by functionalising the thermo-responsive polymer with a thiol (PDEGMA/PDEGSH) by co-polymerisation. These incorporated thiols react with the norbornene acid functionalised peptide (Nor-GGG-YIGSR) under UV exposure. Presence of the thiol in the scaffold and subsequent peptide attachment on the scaffolds were confirmed by fluorescence labelling, ToF-SIMS and XPS analysis. The biocompatibility of the peptide containing scaffolds was assessed by the adhesion, proliferation and immuno-staining of hCSCs. Significant increase in hCSC adherence and proliferation was observed on the peptide containing scaffolds. Immuno-staining showed maintained expression of the desired phenotypic markers ALDH, CD34 and CD105, while showing no or low expression of the undesired phenotype marker α-SMA. This desired expression was observed to be maintained after thermo-responsive passaging and higher when cells were cultured on PLA scaffolds with 10 wt% PDEGMA/4 mol% PDEGS-Nor-GGG-YIGSR. This paper describes the fabrication and application of a first generation, biocompatible peptide conjugated thermo-responsive fibrous scaffold. The ease of fabrication, successful adherence and expansion of a therapeutically relevant cell type makes these scaffolds a promising new class of materials for the application of cell culture expansion platforms in the biomaterials and tissue engineering field.

Three-dimensional scaffold-free microtissues engineered for cardiac repair

Cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction (MI), persist as the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The limited regenerative capacity of the myocardium presents significant challenges specifically for the treatment of MI and, subsequently, heart failure (HF). Traditional therapeutic approaches mainly rely on limiting the induced damage or the stress on the remaining viable myocardium through pharmacological regulation of remodeling mechanisms, rather than replacement or regeneration of the injured tissue. The emerging alternative regenerative medicine-based approaches have focused on restoring the damaged myocardial tissue with newly engineered functional and bioinspired tissue units. Cardiac regenerative medicine approaches can be broadly categorized into three groups: cell-based therapies, scaffold-based cardiac tissue engineering, and scaffold-free cardiac tissue engineering. Despite significant advancements, however, the clinical translation of these approaches has been critically hindered by two key obstacles for successful structural and functional replacement of the damaged myocardium, namely: poor engraftment of engineered tissue into the damaged cardiac muscle and weak electromechanical coupling of transplanted cells with the native tissue. To that end, the integration of micro- and nanoscale technologies along with recent advancements in stem cell technologies have opened new avenues for engineering of structurally mature and highly functional scaffold-based (SB-CMTs) and scaffold-free cardiac microtissues (SF-CMTs) with enhanced cellular organization and electromechanical coupling for the treatment of MI and HF. In this review article, we will present the state-of-the-art approaches and recent advancements in the engineering of SF-CMTs for myocardial repair.

The potency of hsa-miR-9-1 overexpression in photoreceptor differentiation of conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells on a 3D nanofibrous scaffold

MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that are ordinarily involved in modulating mRNAs and stem cell differentiation. 3D nanofibrous scaffolds have an important role in the differentiation of stem cells due to their similarity to the extracellular matrix (ECM). In the present study, we tried to introduce a new approach to guiding the differentiation of conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells (CJMSCs) into photoreceptor-like cells by hsa-miR-9-1 delivery on both 2D and 3D substrates. First, the CJMSCs were transduced by a lentiviral vector carrying miR-9 (pCDH + hsa-miR-9-1) and then cell transduction efficacy verified by using fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry, and qPCR analyses. Silk Fibroin-poly-L-lactic acid (SF-PLLA) scaffold was fabricated by the electrospinning technique while the scaffold characteristics including morphology, chemical properties, and biocompatibility were evaluated by SEM, FTIR, and MTT assays, respectively. Then, the miR-9-CJMSCs were seeded on both TCPS and the scaffold; photoreceptor gene and protein expressions were evaluated by RT-qPCR and immunostaining after 14 and 21 days of transduction. More than 80% of CJMSCs were transduced and miR-9 expression was significantly higher in miR-9-CJMSCs compared with empty vector (EV)-CJMSCs. SEM and FTIR confirmed the fabrication of the SF/PLLA hybrid structure. RT-qPCR and immunostaining analyses showed that the specific photoreceptor genes and proteins were expressed in miR-9 transduced CJMSCs. Mir-9 induced CJMSCs into photoreceptor-like cells in a time-dependent manneron on both TCPS and nanofibrous scaffold.We have proved that hsa-miR-9-1 has the potency to guide the photoreceptor differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and promote retinal regeneration.

"Tree to Bone": Lignin/Polycaprolactone Nanofibers for Hydroxyapatite Biomineralization

Bone contains an organic matrix composed of aligned collagen fibers embedded with nanosized inorganic hydroxyapatite (HAp). Many efforts are being made to mimic the natural mineralization process and create artificial bone scaffolds that show elaborate morphologies, excellent mechanical properties, and vital biological functions. This study reports a newly discovered function of lignin mediating the formation of human bone-like HAp. Lignin is the second most abundant organic material in nature, and it exhibits many attractive properties for medical applications, such as high durability, stability, antioxidant and antibacterial activities, and biocompatibility. Numerous phenolic and aliphatic hydroxyl moieties exist in the side chains of lignin, which donate adequate reactive sites for chelation with Ca²⁺ and the subsequent nucleation of HAp through coprecipitation of Ca²⁺ and PO₄^3-. The growth of HAp crystals was facilitated by simple incubation of the electrospun lignin/polycaprolactone (PCL) matrix in a simulated body fluid. Multiple analyses revealed that HAp crystals were structurally and mechanically similar to the native bone. Furthermore, the mineralized lignin/PCL nanofibrous films facilitated efficient adhesion and proliferation of osteoblasts by directing filopodial extension. Our results underpin the expectations for this lignin-based biomaterial in future biointerfaces and hard-tissue engineering.

3D Scaffolds Based on Conductive Polymers for Biomedical Applications

3D scaffolds appear to be a cost-effective ultimate answer for biomedical applications, facilitating rapid results while providing an environment similar to in vivo tissue. These biomaterials offer large surface areas for cell or biomaterial attachment, proliferation, biosensing and drug delivery applications. Among 3D scaffolds, the ones based on conjugated polymers (CPs) and natural nonconductive polymers arranged in a 3D architecture provide tridimensionality to cellular culture along with a high surface area for cell adherence and proliferation as well electrical conductivity for stimulation or sensing. However, the scaffolds must also obey other characteristics: homogeneous porosity, with pore sizes large enough to allow cell penetration and nutrient flow; elasticity and wettability similar to the tissue of implantation; and a suitable composition to enhance cell-matrix interactions. In this Review, we summarize the fabrication methods, characterization techniques and main applications of conductive 3D scaffolds based on conductive polymers. The main barrier in the development of these platforms has been the fabrication and subsequent maintenance of the third dimension due to challenges in the manipulation of conductive polymers. In the last decades, different approaches to overcome these barriers have been developed for the production of conductive 3D scaffolds, demonstrating a huge potential for biomedical purposes. Finally, we present an overview of the emerging strategies developed to manufacture 3D conductive scaffolds, the techniques used to fully characterize them, and the biomedical fields where they have been applied.

Nano-Graphene Oxide Functionalized Bioactive Poly(lactic acid) and Poly(ε-caprolactone) Nanofibrous Scaffolds

A versatile and convenient way to produce bioactive poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds is described. PLA and PCL are extensively used as biocompatible scaffold materials for tissue engineering. Here, biobased nano graphene oxide dots (nGO) are incorporated in PLA or PCL electrospun scaffolds during the electrospinning process aiming to enhance the mechanical properties and endorse osteo-bioactivity. nGO was found to tightly attach to the fibers through secondary interactions. It also improved the electrospinnability and fiber quality. The prepared nanofibrous scaffolds exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, increased hydrophilicity, good cytocompatibility and osteo-bioactivity. Therefore, immense potential for bone tissue engineering applications is anticipated.

Preparation, structural characterization, and in vitro cell studies of three-dimensional SiO2-CaO binary glass scaffolds built ofultra-small nanofibers

Three-dimensional (3D) nanofibrous scaffolds hold great promises in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In this work, for the first time, 3D SiO₂-CaO binary glass nanofibrous scaffolds have been fabricated via a combined method of template-assisted sol-gel and calcination by using bacterial cellulose as the template. SEM with EDS, TEM, and AFM confirm that the molar ratio of Ca to Si and fiber diameter of the resultant SiO₂-CaO nanofibers can be controlled by immersion time in the solution of tetraethyl orthosilicate and ethanol. The optimal immersion time was 6h which produced the SiO₂-CaO binary glass containing 60at.% Si and 40at.% Ca (named 60S40C). The fiber diameter of 60S40C scaffold is as small as 29nm. In addition, the scaffold has highly porous 3D nanostructure with dominant mesopores at 10.6nm and macropores at 20μm as well as a large BET surface area (240.9m²g^-1), which endow the 60S40C scaffold excellent biocompatibility and high ALP activity as revealed by cell studies using osteoblast cells. These results suggest that the 60S40C scaffold has great potential in bone tissue regeneration.

Bioactive polymeric scaffolds for tissue engineering

A variety of engineered scaffolds have been created for tissue engineering using polymers, ceramics and their composites. Biomimicry has been adopted for majority of the three-dimensional (3D) scaffold design both in terms of physicochemical properties, as well as bioactivity for superior tissue regeneration. Scaffolds fabricated via salt leaching, particle sintering, hydrogels and lithography have been successful in promoting cell growth in vitro and tissue regeneration in vivo. Scaffold systems derived from decellularization of whole organs or tissues has been popular due to their assured biocompatibility and bioactivity. Traditional scaffold fabrication techniques often failed to create intricate structures with greater resolution, not reproducible and involved multiple steps. The 3D printing technology overcome several limitations of the traditional techniques and made it easier to adopt several thermoplastics and hydrogels to create micro-nanostructured scaffolds and devices for tissue engineering and drug delivery. This review highlights scaffold fabrication methodologies with a focus on optimizing scaffold performance through the matrix pores, bioactivity and degradation rate to enable tissue regeneration. Review highlights few examples of bioactive scaffold mediated nerve, muscle, tendon/ligament and bone regeneration. Regardless of the efforts required for optimization, a shift in 3D scaffold uses from the laboratory into everyday life is expected in the near future as some of the methods discussed in this review become more streamlined.

Stem Cell Differentiation Toward the Myogenic Lineage for Muscle Tissue Regeneration: A Focus on Muscular Dystrophy

Skeletal muscle tissue engineering is one of the important ways for regenerating functionally defective muscles. Among the myopathies, the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive disease due to mutations of the dystrophin gene leading to progressive myofiber degeneration with severe symptoms. Although current therapies in muscular dystrophy are still very challenging, important progress has been made in materials science and in cellular technologies with the use of stem cells. It is therefore useful to review these advances and the results obtained in a clinical point of view. This article focuses on the differentiation of stem cells into myoblasts, and their application in muscular dystrophy. After an overview of the different stem cells that can be induced to differentiate into the myogenic lineage, we introduce scaffolding materials used for muscular tissue engineering. We then described some widely used methods to differentiate different types of stem cell into myoblasts. We highlight recent insights obtained in therapies for muscular dystrophy. Finally, we conclude with a discussion on stem cell technology. We discussed in parallel the benefits brought by the evolution of the materials and by the expansion of cell sources which can differentiate into myoblasts. We also discussed on future challenges for clinical applications and how to accelerate the translation from the research to the clinic in the frame of DMD.

Silk fibroin scaffolds with a micro-/nano-fibrous architecture for dermal regeneration

Silk fibroin (SF) scaffolds have been widely used in tissue engineering. However, a critical challenge for 3D SF scaffolds remains in providing a more appropriate microenvironment with a nanofibrous network to enhance cell viability and guide cell migration, thus further promoting tissue regeneration. In this study, a novel SF scaffold containing micro-/nano-fibers was prepared by a facile two-step freeze-drying technology. Carbodiimide-activated SF solution was diluted to 0.2 wt%, and then poured into pre-fabricated porous SF scaffolds. Consequently, well-dispersed fibrous networks with a fiber size of 511 ± 217 nm were produced within the pores of SF scaffolds after liquid nitrogen immersion, followed by lyophilization. The results of in vitro culture of dermal fibroblast cells and umbilical vein endothelial cells on fibrous SF scaffolds demonstrated that the introduction of the micro-/nano-fibers significantly enhanced cell attachment, proliferation and migration by providing 3D topographic cues. In vivo, the SF scaffolds were implanted into dorsal full-thickness wounds of Sprague-Dawley rats as dermal equivalents to evaluate the effect of the fibrous microstructure on dermal tissue reconstruction. The results demonstrated that the fibrous SF scaffolds promoted tissue neogenesis and collagen matrix formation by providing a fibrous ECM-like topography. This new fibrous SF scaffold offers potential for dermal tissue regeneration.

The effect of fiber size and pore size on cell proliferation and infiltration in PLLA scaffolds on bone tissue engineering

The scaffold microstructure has a great impact on cell functions in tissue engineering. Herein, the PLLA scaffolds with hierarchical fiber size and pore size were successfully fabricated by thermal-induced phase separation or combined thermal-induced phase separation and salt leaching methods. The PLLA scaffolds were fabricated as microfibrous scaffolds, microfibrous scaffolds with macropores (50–350 µm), nanofibrous scaffolds with micropores (100 nm to 10 µm), and nanofibrous scaffolds with both macropores and micropores by tailoring selective solvents for forming different fiber size and pre-sieved salts for creating controlled pore size. Among the four kinds of PLLA scaffolds, the nanofibrous scaffolds with both macropores and micropores provided a favorable microenvironment for protein adsorption, cell proliferation, and cell infiltration. The results further confirmed the significance of fiber size and pore size on the biological properties, and a scaffold with both micropores and macropores, and a nanofibrous matrix might have promising applications in bone tissue engineering.

Conferring Natural-Derived Porous Microspheres with Surface Multifunctionality through Facile Coordination-Enabled Self-Assembly Process

In this study, multifunctional chitin microspheres are synthesized and utilized as a platform for multiple potential applications in enzyme immobilization, catalytic reduction and adsorption. Porous chitin microspheres with an average diameter of 111.5 μm and a porous architecture are fabricated through a thermally induced phase separation method. Then, the porous chitin microspheres are conferred with surface multifunctionality through facile coordination-enabled self-assembly of tannic acid (TA) and titanium (Ti(IV)) bis(ammonium lactate)dihydroxide (Ti-BALDH). The multipoint hydrogen bonds between TA and chitin microspheres confer the TA-Ti(IV) coating with high adhesion capability to adhere firmly to the surface of the chitin microspheres. In view of the biocompatibility, porosity and surface activity, the multifunctional chitin microspheres are used as carriers for enzyme immobilization. The enzyme-conjugated multifunctional porous microspheres exhibit high catalytic performance (102.8 U·mg(-1) yeast alcohol dehydrogenase). Besides, the multifunctional chitin microspheres also find potential applications in the catalytic reduction (e.g., reduction of silver ions to silver nanoparticles) and efficient adsorption of heavy metal ions (e.g., Pb(2+)) taking advantages of their porosity, reducing capability and chelation property.

Superelastic, superabsorbent and 3D nanofiber-assembled scaffold for tissue engineering

Fabrication of 3D scaffold to mimic the nanofibrous structure of the nature extracellular matrix (ECM) with appropriate mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility, remain an important technical challenge in tissue engineering. The present study reports the strategy to fabricate a 3D nanofibrous scaffold with similar structure to collagen in ECM by combining electrospinning and freeze-drying technique. With the technique reported here, a nanofibrous structure scaffold with hydrophilic and superabsorbent properties can be readily prepared by Gelatin and Polylactic acid (PLA). In wet state the scaffold also shows a super-elastic property, which could bear a compressive strain as high as 80% and recovers its original shape afterwards. Moreover, after 6 days of culture, L-929 cells grow, proliferate and infiltrated into the scaffold. The results suggest that this 3D nanofibrous scaffold would be promising for varied field of tissue engineering application.

A review on non-electro nanofibre spinning techniques

A large surface area, scalable porosity, and versatility have made nanofibres one of the most widely investigated morphologies among the nanomaterials.

Artificial extracellular matrix delivers TGFb1 regulating myofibroblast differentiation

Spatiotemporally controlled release of transforming growth factor β1 from electrospun biomimetic nanofibers realized optimal cell viability and myofibroblast differentiation capacity, which holds great potential in wound healing application.

Ultralight open cell polymer sponges with advanced properties by PPX CVD coating

Ultralight hydrophobic polymer sponges with enhanced compressive strength prepared by electrospinning and PPX coating showed tuneable density, compression strength, and water contact angle, and low thermal conductivity. On holding a piece of such a sponge in hand, one does not feel the cold from dry ice.

Electrospun polycaprolactone 3D nanofibrous scaffold with interconnected and hierarchically structured pores for bone tissue engineering

For the first time, electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) 3D nanofibrous scaffold has been developed by an innovative and convenient approach (i.e., thermally induced nanofiber self-agglomeration followed by freeze drying), and the scaffold possesses interconnected and hierarchically structured pores including macropores with sizes up to ≈300 μm. The novel PCL 3D scaffold is soft and elastic with very high porosity of ≈96.4%, thus it is morphologically/structurally similar to natural extracellular matrix and well suited for cell functions and tissue formation. The in vitro studies reveal that the scaffold can lead to high cell viability; more importantly, it is able to promote more potent BMP2-induced chondrogenic than osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Consistent to the in vitro findings, the in vivo results indicate that the electrospun PCL 3D scaffold acts as a favorable synthetic extracellular matrix for functional bone regeneration through the physiological endochondral ossification process.

Functionalized scaffolds to enhance tissue regeneration

Tissue engineering scaffolds play a vital role in regenerative medicine. It not only provides a temporary 3-dimensional support during tissue repair, but also regulates the cell behavior, such as cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. In this review, we summarize the development and trends of functional scaffolding biomaterials including electrically conducting hydrogels and nano-composites of hydroxyapatite (HA) and bioactive glasses (BGs) with various biodegradable polymers. Furthermore, the progress on the fabrication of biomimetic nanofibrous scaffolds from conducting polymers and composites of HA and BG via electrospinning, deposition and thermally induced phase separation is discussed. Moreover, bioactive molecules and surface properties of scaffolds are very important during tissue repair. Bioactive molecule-releasing scaffolds and antimicrobial surface coatings for biomedical implants and scaffolds are also reviewed.

hiPS-MSCs differentiation towards fibroblasts on a 3D ECM mimicking scaffold

Fibroblasts are ubiquitous cells that constitute the stroma of virtually all tissues and play vital roles in homeostasis. The poor innate healing capacity of fibroblastic tissues is attributed to the scarcity of fibroblasts as collagen-producing cells. In this study, we have developed a functional ECM mimicking scaffold that is capable to supply spatial allocation of stem cells as well as anchorage and storage of growth factors (GFs) to direct stem cells differentiate towards fibroblasts. Electrospun PCL fibers were embedded in a PEG-fibrinogen (PF) hydrogel, which was infiltrated with connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) to form the 3D nanocomposite PFP-C. The human induced pluripotent stem cells derived mesenchymal stem cells (hiPS-MSCs) with an advance in growth over adult MSCs were applied to validate the fibrogenic capacity of the 3D nanocomposite scaffold. The PFP-C scaffold was found not only biocompatible with the hiPS-MSCs, but also presented intriguingly strong fibroblastic commitments, to an extent comparable to the positive control, tissue culture plastic surfaces (TCP) timely refreshed with 100% CTGF. The novel scaffold presented not only biomimetic ECM nanostructures for homing stem cells, but also sufficient cell-approachable bio-signaling cues, which may synergistically facilitate the control of stem cell fates for regenerative therapies.

Poly(ester-ether)s: III. assessment of cell behaviour on nanofibrous scaffolds of PCL, PLLA and PDX blended with amorphous PMeDX

SEM images of HDF cells on scaffolds: (a) PCL/PMeDX: 93/7-good adhesion and proliferation, (b) PDX/PMeDX: 98/2-good adhesion, proliferation & infiltration and (c) PLLA/PMeDX: 85/15-good proliferation and infiltration.

Fabrication of biomimetic bundled gel fibres using dynamic microfluidic gelation of phase-separated polymer solutions

Here, we discuss the fabrication of biomimetic bundle-structured gel fibres using a microfluidic device and the rapid cross-linking of a phase-separated polymer blend solution.

3D Conducting Polymer Platforms for Electrical Control of Protein Conformation and Cellular Functions

We report the fabrication of three dimensional (3D) macroporous scaffolds made from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) via an ice-templating method. The scaffolds offer tunable pore size and morphology, and are electrochemically active. When a potential is applied to the scaffolds, reversible changes take place in their electrical doping state, which in turn enables precise control over the conformation of adsorbed proteins (e.g., fibronectin). Additionally, the scaffolds support the growth of mouse fibroblasts (3T3-L1) for 7 days, and are able to electrically control cell adhesion and pro-angiogenic capability. These 3D matrix-mimicking platforms offer precise control of protein conformation and major cell functions, over large volumes and long cell culture times. As such, they represent a new tool for biological research with many potential applications in bioelectronics, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.

Cell-encapsulating alginate microsized beads using an air-assisted atomization process to obtain a cell-laden hybrid scaffold

Here, the atomization process to obtain homogeneous cell-laden microbeads was proposed, and they were sprayed simultaneously onto the surface of a PCL mesh structure in a layer-by-layer manner to obtain the cell-laden hybrid structure.

Effect of surfactant types on the biocompatibility of electrospun HAp/PHBV composite nanofibers

Bone tissue engineering literature conveys investigations regarding biodegradable polymers where bioactive inorganic materials are added either before or after electrospinning process. The goal is to mimic the composition of bone and enhance the biocompatibility of the materials. Yet, most polymeric materials are hydrophobic in nature; therefore, their surfaces are not favorable for human cellular adhesion. In this sense, modifications of the hydrophobic surface of electrospun polymer fibers with hydrophilic and bioactive nanoparticles are beneficial. In this work, dispersion of hydroxyapatite (HAp), which is similar to the mineral component of natural bone, within biodegradable and biocompatible polymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) with the aid of a surfactant has been investigated. Non-ionic TWEEN20 and 12-hydroxysteric acid (HSA), cationic dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) and anionic sodium deoxycholate and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants were used for comparison in order to prepare stable and homogenous nanocomposite suspensions of HAp/PHBV for the electrospinning process. Continuous and uniform composite nanofibers were generated successfully within a diameter range of 400-1,000 nm by the mediation of all surfactant types. Results showed that incorporation of HAp and any of the surfactant types strongly activates the precipitation rate of the apatite-like particles and decreases percent crystallinity of the HAp/PHBV mats. Mineralization was greatly enhanced on the fibers produced by using DTAB, HSA, and especially SDS on where also osteoblastic metabolic activity was similarly increased. The produced HAp/PHBV nanofibrous composite scaffolds would be a promising candidate as an osteoconductive bioceramic/polymer composite material for tissue engineering applications.

Paper-based bioactive scaffolds for stem cell-mediated bone tissue engineering

Bioactive, functional scaffolds are required to improve the regenerative potential of stem cells for tissue reconstruction and functional recovery of damaged tissues. Here, we report a paper-based bioactive scaffold platform for stem cell culture and transplantation for bone reconstruction. The paper scaffolds are surface-engineered by an initiated chemical vapor deposition process for serial coating of a water-repellent and cell-adhesive polymer film, which ensures the long-term stability in cell culture medium and induces efficient cell attachment. The prepared paper scaffolds are compatible with general stem cell culture and manipulation techniques. An optimal paper type is found to provide structural, physical, and mechanical cues to enhance the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). A bioactive paper scaffold significantly enhances in vivo bone regeneration of hADSCs in a critical-sized calvarial bone defect. Stacking the paper scaffolds with osteogenically differentiated hADSCs and human endothelial cells resulted in vascularized bone formation in vivo. Our study suggests that paper possesses great potential as a bioactive, functional, and cost-effective scaffold platform for stem cell-mediated bone tissue engineering. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the feasibility of a paper material for stem cell application to repair tissue defects.

Heparinized PLLA/PLCL nanofibrous scaffold for potential engineering of small-diameter blood vessel: tunable elasticity and anticoagulation property

The success of tissue engineered vascular grafts depends greatly on the synthetic tubular scaffold, which can mimic the architecture, mechanical, and anticoagulation properties of native blood vessels. In this study, small-diameter tubular scaffolds were fabricated with different weight ratios of poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(l-lactide-co-ɛ-caprolactone) (PLCL) by means of thermally induced phase separation technique. To improve the anticoagulation property of materials, heparin was covalently linked to the tubular scaffolds by N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide coupling chemistry. The as-prepared PLLA/PLCL scaffolds retained microporous nanofibrous structure as observed in the neat PLLA scaffolds, and their structural and mechanical properties can be fine-tuned by changing the ratio of two components. The scaffold containing 60% PLCL content was found to be the most promising scaffold for engineering small-diameter blood vessel in terms of elastic properties and structural integrity. The heparinized scaffolds showed higher hydrophilicity, lower protein adsorption ability, and better in vitro anticoagulation property than their untreated counterparts. Pig iliac endothelial cells seeded on the heparinized scaffold showed good cellular attachment, spreading, proliferation, and phenotypic maintenance. Furthermore, the heparinized scaffolds exhibited neovascularization after subcutaneous implantation into the New Zealand white rabbits for 1 and 2 months. Taken together, the heparinized PLLA/PLCL nanofibrous scaffolds have the great potential for vascular tissue engineering application.