Multilayered polycaprolactone/gelatin fiber-hydrogel composite for tendon tissue engineering

Abstract

Regeneration of injured tendon and ligament (T&L) remains a clinical challenge due to their poor intrinsic healing capacity. Tissue engineering provides a promising alternative treatment approach to facilitate T&L healing and regeneration. Successful tendon tissue engineering requires the use of three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic scaffolds that possess the physical and biochemical features of native tendon tissue. We report here the development and characterization of a novel composite scaffold fabricated by co-electrospinning of poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) and methacrylated gelatin (mGLT). We found that photocrosslinking retained mGLT, resulted in a uniform distribution of mGLT throughout the depth of scaffold and also preserved scaffold mechanical strength. Moreover, photocrosslinking was able to integrate stacked scaffold sheets to form multilayered constructs that mimic the structure of native tendon tissues. Importantly, cells impregnated into the constructs remained responsive to topographical cues and exogenous tenogenic factors, such as TGF-β3. The excellent biocompatibility and highly integrated structure of the scaffold developed in this study will allow the creation of more advanced tendon graft that possesses the architecture and cell phenotype of native tendon tissues.

Nanofiber‐Based Hydrogels: Controllable Synthesis and Multifunctional Applications

“…By regulating the electrospinning/electrospray equipment and spinning parameters, the mixing uniformity of the hydrogel precursor and nanofibers can be controlled, therefore, via combining the appropriate post‐crosslinking treatment, NFHGs with more uniform structure and higher mechanical strength could be prepared. For instance, Tuan and co‐workers fabricated poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL) and methacrylated gelatin (mGLT) (PCL/mGLT) nanofibrous membranes by dual electrospinning with two high voltage DC supply aligned in opposing positions . And then, visible light (VL)‐activated photoinitiator solution was completely cast on the PCL/mGLT membranes, the crosslinking of the mGLT was activated by using VL irradiation ( Figure a).…”

“…e) Peel adhesive strengths of the relevant fibrous hydrogels with a multilayer structure. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2016, Elsevier.…”

“…Almost all of the requirements can be satisfied by taking NFHGs as the scaffold. Tuan and co‐workers successfully developed a novel nanofiber‐based hydrogel tendon scaffold consisted of PCL nanofibers and methacrylated gelatin (mGLT) hydrogel by co‐electrospinning method . By utilizing the in situ composite approach, photo‐crosslinked mGLT hydrogel could be uniformly distributed throughout the anisotropic fibrous scaffold, thus the mechanical strength of the hydrogel scaffold was greatly enhanced.…”

Advances in Tendon and Ligament Tissue Engineering: Materials Perspective

“…Coelectrospinning of aligned poly--caprolactone (PCL) and methacrylated gelatin (mGLT) followed by photo-cross-linking was used in the fabrication process [34]. Scaffold films were first produced and then were seeded with ADSC, after which photo-cross-linking of 5 layers using UV radiation was made to produce a multilayered scaffold mimicking the natural tendon structure.…”

Nanosized sustained-release drug depots fabricated using modified tri-axial electrospinning

“…This has mainly been investigated in the context of monolithic fibers with one or two functional ingredients/nanoparticles distributed homogeneously in the filament-forming polymer matrix [19][20][21][22]. The second is the creation of more complex nanostructures (such as core-shell and Janus systems, and combinations thereof) in order to yield materials with improved functional performance [23][24][25][26]. In the biomedical field, if a drug reservoir could be formed as the core of electrospun core-shell fibers, then new fiber-based nanoscale drug depots could be created, such as an electrospun suture [27].…”