Patterned Electrospinning: A Method of Generating Defined Fibrous Constructs Influencing Cell Adhesion and Retention

Abstract

A critical component of tissue engineering is the ability to functionally replace native tissue stroma. Electrospinning is a technique capable of forming fibrous constructs with a high surface area for increased cell−material interaction and enhanced biocompatibility. However, physical and biological properties of electrospun scaffolds are limited by design controllability on a macroscale. We developed a methodology for generating electrospun scaffolds with defined patterns and topographic features to influence physical properties and biological interactions. Five unique design electrospinning target collectors were fabricated to allow for generation of defined polymeric scaffold patterns including lines, sinusoids, squares, zigzags, and solid. Poly(lacticco-glycolic) acid was electrospun under identical conditions utilizing these varied targets, and constructs generated were examined as to their physical configuration, mechanical and chemical properties, and their ability to foster vascular smooth muscle cell adhesion and retention at 24 h. Modifying collector designs led to significant differences in fiber target coverage ranging from 300 mm 2 for solid (100% of the target area) to 217.8 mm 2 for lines (72.6% of the target area). Measured fiber excess, residual open area, and contact angle (hydrophobicity) followed the same trend as fiber target coverage with respect to the collector pattern: lines > sinusoids > squares > zigzags > solid. Similarly, the line design allowed for the greatest cell adhesion and retention (258 ± 31 cells), whereas solid exhibited the lowest (150 ± 15 cells); p < 0.05. There was a strong direct correlation of cell adhesion to construct residual open area (R 2 = 0.94), normalized fiber excess (R 2 = 0.99), and fiber grammage (R 2 = 0.72), with an inverse relationship to fiber target coverage (R 2 = 0.94). Our results demonstrate the ability to utilize patterned collectors for modifying macroscopic and microscopic electrospun scaffold features, which directly impact cell adhesion and retention, offering translational utility for designing specific tissue constructs.

Exploration of the pathogenesis of Allergic asthma using microfluidics and electrospinning technologies

“…Electrospinning is a technology that can create a fibrous structure with a high surface area to enhance cell-material interactions and biocompatibility. The fabrication of basement membranes using electrospinning is a recognized method for replicating tissue matrices and their composition, morphology, and mechanical properties 10,11 . Digital Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (digital ELISA) can achieve single-molecule high-sensitivity detection, detecting trace proteins in serum at concentrations as low as pg/mL in clinical experiments 12 .…”