Electrospun chitosan-graft-poly (ε-caprolactone)/poly (ε-caprolactone) nanofibrous scaffolds for retinal tissue engineering

Abstract

A promising therapy for retinal diseases is to employ biodegradable scaffolds to deliver retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) for repairing damaged or diseased retinal tissue. In the present study, cationic chitosan-graft-poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/polycaprolactone (CS-PCL/PCL) hybrid scaffolds were successfully prepared by electrospinning. Characterization of the obtained nanofibrous scaffolds indicated that zeta-potential, fiber diameter, and the content of amino groups on their surface were closely correlated with the amount of CS-PCL in CS-PCL/PCL scaffolds. To assess the cell–scaffold interaction, mice RPCs (mRPCs) were cultured on the electrospun scaffolds for 7 days. In-vitro proliferation assays revealed that mRPCs proliferated faster on the CS-PCL/PCL (20/80) scaffolds than the other electrospun scaffolds. Scanning electron microscopy and the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that mRPCs grown on CS-PCL/PCL (20/80) scaffolds were more likely to differentiate towards retinal neurons than those on PCL scaffolds. Taken together, these results suggest that CS-PCL/PCL(20/80) scaffolds have potential application in retinal tissue engineering.

Scaffolds and stem cells: delivery of cell transplants for retinal degenerations

“…As the solution is ejected from the needle, the solvent evaporates forming individual continuous fibers deposited on the collecting plate. Fibrous electrospun scaffolds produced from PCL and the biomaterial chitosan, which has been covalently bonded to PCL, as well as blends of the two materials, were compared for their engineered properties and their cellular effects [39]. The scaffolds produced from the different materials formed similar scaffolds with fiber mats containing a random orientation with a mean diameter between 656 and 925 nm and containing a porosity between 77 and 89%, with smaller fiber diameter scaffolds being less porous.…”

Chitosan surface modification of fully interconnected 3D porous poly(ε-caprolactone) by the LbL approach

“…Also, in the center, zero CNO À ions are detected, whereas in the same area, the presence of C 6 H 11 O 3 À ions is evident, which shows that chitosan deposition failed in this specific position. Previously, negative zeta potentials for PCL nanofiber scaffolds have been measured which clearly demonstrates that the negative carbonyl oxygen is present at the surface [36,37]. Clearly, the dip coating strategy carried out in this work fails to deposit a controlled homogeneous chitosan coating on both 2D solid discs of pure PCL.…”

Vascularization Potential of Electrospun Poly(L-Lactide-co-Caprolactone) Scaffold: The Impact for Tissue Engineering

“…Our previous research has clearly demonstrated that the arrangement of fibers facilitates the invasion of host endothelial cells, thus promoting angiogenic activity, especially in the intraperitoneal environment [29]. …”