Improved cell infiltration of electrospun nanofiber mats for layered tissue constructs

Abstract

While achieving the spatial organization of cells within 3D assembled nanofiber/cell constructs via nanofiber-enabled cell layering, the small sizes of inter-fiber pores of the electrospun nanofiber mats could significantly limit cell penetration across the layers for rapid formation of an integrated tissue construct. To address this challenge, efforts were made to improve cellinfiltration of electrospun nanofiber mats by modulating the density distribution and spatial organization of the fibers during electrospinning. Collection of collagen-containing electrospun nanofibers (300-600 nm in diameter) onto the surface of a stainless steel metal mesh (1 mm × 1 mm in mesh size) led to the periodic alternation of fiber density from densely packed to loosely arranged distribution within the same mat, in which the densely packed fibers maintained the structural integrity while the region of loose fibers allowed for cell penetration. Along with improved cell infiltration, the distinct fiber organization between dense and loose fiber regions also induced different morphology of fibroblasts (stellate vs. elongated spindle-like). Assembly of cell-seeded nanofiber sheets into 3D constructs with such periodically organized nanofiber mats further demonstrated their advantages in improving cell penetration across layers in comparison to either random or aligned nanofiber mats. Taken together, modulation of nanofiber density to enlarge the pore size is effective to improve cell infiltration through electrospun mats for better tissue formation.

The effect of electrospun polycaprolactone scaffold morphology on human kidney epithelial cells

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Biosynthetic PCL-graft-Collagen Bulk Material for Tissue Engineering Applications

“…They found that fibroblasts attached and proliferated on all composites, reaching the optimal condition at the 1:20 blend ratio after 8 days of culture [ 13 ]. Although, in the last 15 years, several works on PCL/Coll blends for the preparation of dense films have been heavily reported in literature [ 14 ], most of the PCL and collagen combinations have been for the preparation of fibrous constructs using electrospinning. Several approaches have also been proposed for improving the miscibility of the two polymers.…”

Spirulina-PCL Nanofiber Wound Dressing to Improve Cutaneous Wound Healing by Enhancing Antioxidative Mechanism

“…Diameter of PCL and Spirulina-PCL nanofiber was 0.77 ± 0.21 and 0.90 ± 0.54 m, respectively. Structures of both nanofibers have pores of the mesh and cells can infiltrate into the pores and attach at threads forming 3-dimensional morphology [33][34][35][36]. The cell infiltration was shown at our previous studies [33,37].…”