Nanofibrous scaffolds with defined architectures and anisotropic mechanical properties are attractive for many tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Here, a novel electrospinning system is developed and implemented to fabricate continuous processable uniaxially aligned nanofiber yarns (UANY). UANY were processed into fibrous tissue scaffolds with defined anisotropic material properties using various textile-forming technologies, i.e., braiding, weaving, and knitting techniques. UANY braiding dramatically increased overall stiffness and strength compared to the same number of UANY unbraided. Human adipose derived stem cells (HADSC) cultured on UANY or woven and knitted 3D scaffolds aligned along local fiber direction and were >90% viable throughout 21 days. Importantly, UANY supported biochemical induction of HADSC differentiation toward smooth muscle and osteogenic lineages. Moreover, we integrated an anisotropic woven fiber mesh within a bioactive hydrogel to mimic the complex microstructure and mechanical behavior of valve tissues. Human aortic valve interstitial cells (HAVIC) and human aortic root smooth muscle cells (HASMC) were separately encapsulated within hydrogel/woven fabric composite scaffolds for generating scaffolds with anisotropic biomechanics and valve ECM like microenvironment for heart valve tissue engineering. UANY have great potential as building blocks for generating fiber-shaped tissues or tissue microstructures with complex architectures.

Electrospun nanofiber membrane (ENM) with huge specific surface area is an ideal solid substrate for sensors. However, only a few ENMs are developed into colorimetric sensors and it is even more challenging to fabricate multiple-ion-responsive ENM-based colorimetric sensor. In this study, benefiting from the excellent metal ion adsorption ability of poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) and high specific surface area of nanofibers, a reusable colorimetric sensor utilizing PASP electrospun nanofiber hydrogel membrane (ENHM) was designed to detect Cu2+ and Fe3+ in aqueous solution with simple filtration. The sensor based on PASP–ENHM exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity, and colorimetric responses for Cu2+ and Fe3+ detection could be observed by the naked eye. Upon exposure to Cu2+ aqueous solution, the color of the sensor changed from white to blue with a naked eye detection limit of 0.3 mg/L, while it turned from white to yellow with a detection limit of 0.1 mg/L for Fe3+ detection. Furthermore, this sensor was reusable after metal ion extraction by the desorption process.

3D heterogeneous and anisotropic scaffolds that approximate native heart valve tissues are indispensable for the successful construction of tissue engineered heart valves (TEHVs). In this study, novel tri-layered and gel-like nanofibrous scaffolds, consisting of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) and poly(aspartic acid) (PASP), are fabricated by a combination of positive/negative conjugate electrospinning and bioactive hydrogel post-processing. The nanofibrous PLGA-PASP scaffolds present tri-layered structures, resulting in anisotropic mechanical properties that are comparable with native heart valve leaflets. Biological tests show that nanofibrous PLGA-PASP scaffolds with high PASP ratios significantly promote the proliferation and collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) secretions of human aortic valvular interstitial cells (HAVICs), compared to PLGA scaffolds. Importantly, the nanofibrous PLGA-PASP scaffolds are found to effectively inhibit the osteogenic differentiation of HAVICs. Two types of porcine VICs, from young and adult age groups, are further seeded onto the PLGA-PASP scaffolds. The adult VICs secrete higher amounts of collagens and GAGs and undergo a significantly higher level of osteogenic differentiation than young VICs. RNA sequencing analysis indicates that age has a pivotal effect on the VIC behaviors. This study provides important guidance and a reference for the design and development of 3D tri-layered, gel-like nanofibrous PLGA-PASP scaffolds for TEHV applications.

No abstract