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Engineering the microstructure of electrospun fibrous scaffolds by microtopography.

ABSTRACT: Controlling the structure and organization of electrospun fibers is desirable for fabricating scaffolds and materials with defined microstructures. However, the effects of microtopography on the deposition and, in turn, the organization of the electrospun fibers are not well understood. In this study, conductive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) templates with different micropatterns were fabricated by combining photolithography, silicon wet etching, and PDMS molding techniques. The fiber organization was varied by fine-tuning the microtopography of the electrospinning collector. Fiber conformity and alignment were influenced by the depth and the slope of microtopography features, resulting in scaffolds comprising either an array of microdomains with different porosity and fiber alignment or an array of microwells. Microtopography affected the fiber organization for hundreds of micrometers below the scaffold surface, resulting in scaffolds with distinct surface properties on each side. In addition, the fiber diameter was also affected by the fiber conformity. The effects of the fiber arrangement in the scaffolds on the morphology, migration, and infiltration of cells were examined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Cell morphology and organization were guided by the fibers in the microdomains, and cell migration was enhanced by the aligned fibers and the three-dimensional scaffold structure. Cell infiltration was correlated with the microdomain porosity. Microscale control of the fiber organization and the porosity at the surface and through the thickness of the fibrous scaffolds, as demonstrated by the results of this study, provides a powerful means of engineering the three-dimensional structure of electrospun fibrous scaffolds for cell and tissue engineering.

SUBMITTER: Cheng Q

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3733537 | biostudies-literature | 2013 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Engineering the microstructure of electrospun fibrous scaffolds by microtopography.

Cheng Qian Q Lee Benjamin L-P BL Komvopoulos Kyriakos K Li Song S

Biomacromolecules 20130425 5

Controlling the structure and organization of electrospun fibers is desirable for fabricating scaffolds and materials with defined microstructures. However, the effects of microtopography on the deposition and, in turn, the organization of the electrospun fibers are not well understood. In this study, conductive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) templates with different micropatterns were fabricated by combining photolithography, silicon wet etching, and PDMS molding techniques. The fiber organization ...[more]

PMID: 23534553

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Project description:BackgroundTissue engineering of the annulus fibrosus (AF) shows promise as a treatment for patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD). However, it remains challenging due to the intrinsic heterogeneity of AF tissue. Fabrication of scaffolds recapitulating the specific cellular, componential, and microstructural features of AF, therefore, is critical to successful AF tissue regeneration.MethodsPoly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fibrous scaffolds with various fiber diameters and orientation were prepared to mimic the microstructural characteristics of AF tissue using electrospinning technique. AF-derived stem cells (AFSCs) were cultured on the PLLA fibrous scaffolds for 7 days.ResultsThe morphology of AFSCs significantly varied when cultured on the scaffolds with various fiber diameters and orientation. AFSCs were nearly round on scaffolds with small fibers. However, they became spindle-shaped on scaffolds with large fibers. Meanwhile, upregulated expression of collagen-I gene happened in cells cultured on scaffolds with large fibers, while enhanced expression of collagen-II and aggrecan genes was seen on scaffolds with small fibers. The production of related proteins also showed similar trends. Further, culturing AFSCs on a heterogeneous scaffold by overlaying membranes with different fiber sizes led to the formation of a hierarchical structure approximating native AF tissue.ConclusionFindings from this study demonstrate that fibrous scaffolds with different fiber sizes effectively promoted the differentiation of AFSCs into specific cells similar to the types of cells at various AF zones. It also provides a valuable reference for regulation of cell differentiation and fabrication of engineered tissues with complex hierarchical structures using the physical cues of scaffolds.The translational potential of this articleEffective AF repair is an essential need for treating degenerative disc disease. Tissue engineering is a promising approach to achieving tissue regeneration and restoring normal functions of tissues. By mimicking the key structural features of native AF tissue, including fiber size and alignment, this study deciphered the effect of scaffold materials on the cell differentiation and extracellular matrix deposition, which provides a solid basis for designing new strategies toward more effective AF repair and regeneration.

Dataset Information

Engineering the microstructure of electrospun fibrous scaffolds by microtopography.

Publications

Engineering the microstructure of electrospun fibrous scaffolds by microtopography.

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