Abstract
Electrospinning is the leading technology to fabricate fibrous scaffolds that mimic the architecture of the extracellular matrix of natural tissues. In order to improve the biological response, a consolidated trend involves the blending of synthetic polymers with natural proteins to form protein-rich fibers that include selected biochemical cues able to more actively support in vitro cell interaction. In this study, we compared protein-rich fibers fabricated via electrospinning by the blending of poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) with three different proteins, i.e., gelatin, zein, and keratin, respectively. We demonstrated that the peculiar features of the proteins used significantly influence the morphological properties, in terms of fiber size and distribution. Moreover, keratin drastically enhances the fiber hydrophilicity (water contact angle equal to 44.3° ± 3.9°) with positive effects on cell interaction, as confirmed by the higher proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) until 7 days. By contrast, gelatin and zein not equally contribute to the fiber wettability (water contact angles equal to 95.2° ± 1.2° and 76.3° ± 4.0°, respectively) due to morphological constraints, i.e., broader fiber diameter distribution ascribable to the non-homogeneous presence of the protein along the fibers, or chemical constrains, i.e., large amount of non-polar amino acids. According to in vitro experimental studies, which included SEM and confocal microscopy analyses and vitality assay, we concluded that keratin is the most promising protein to be combined with PCL for the fabrication of biologically instructive fibers for in vitro applications.
Highlights
Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary field that involves the use of polymer technologies to develop smart scaffolds able to promote in vitro regeneration mechanisms [1,2]
Synthetic polymers such as poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) have been largely used for the fabrication of fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility [29] and mechanical stability ascribable to long degradation times [30]
PCL was blended with three different proteins, namely gelatin, zein, and keratin, respectively, in order to compare the morphological and chemical/physical properties of fibers as a function of the peculiar contribution of the protein used
Summary
Tissue engineering is a multidisciplinary field that involves the use of polymer technologies to develop smart scaffolds able to promote in vitro regeneration mechanisms [1,2]. The native ECM provides several functions including (a) support for cells; (b) storage of growth factors; (c) stimulation of cell differentiation; (d) balance of tissue homeostasis; and (e) response in the presence of tissue injury [5]. This mainly depends upon the peculiar architecture of ECM, which is organized in a 3D network of fibrous proteins and polysaccharides assembled in a unique topography that is able to provide biochemical and biophysical signals to cells [6,7]. Structural proteins such as gelatin, fibrin, elastin, keratin, Polymers 2020, 12, 1671; doi:10.3390/polym12081671 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
