Core-Shell Nanofibrous Scaffold Based on Polycaprolactone-Silk Fibroin Emulsion Electrospinning for Tissue Engineering Applications.

Trina Roy,Sanjoy Ghorai,Bodhisatwa Das,Abir Dutta,Arun Rameshbabu,Santanu Chattopadhyay,Athira John,Santanu Dhara,Priti Maity

doi:10.3390/bioengineering5030068

Abstract

The vast domain of regenerative medicine comprises complex interactions between specific cells’ extracellular matrix (ECM) towards intracellular matrix formation, its secretion, and modulation of tissue as a whole. In this domain, engineering scaffold utilizing biomaterials along with cells towards formation of living tissues is of immense importance especially for bridging the existing gap of late; nanostructures are offering promising capability of mechano-biological response needed for tissue regeneration. Materials are selected for scaffold fabrication by considering both the mechanical integrity and bioactivity cues they offer. Herein, polycaprolactone (PCL) (biodegradable polyester) and ‘nature’s wonder’ biopolymer silk fibroin (SF) are explored in judicious combinations of emulsion electrospinning rather than conventional electrospinning of polymer blends. The water in oil (W/O) emulsions’ stability is found to be dependent upon the concentration of SF (aqueous phase) dispersed in the PCL solution (organic continuous phase). The spinnability of the emulsions is more dependent upon the viscosity of the solution, dominated by the molecular weight of PCL and its concentration than the conductivity. The nanofibers exhibited distinct core-shell structure with better cytocompatibility and cellular growth with the incorporation of the silk fibroin biopolymer.

Highlights

Tissue engineering amalgamates cells, engineered scaffold constructs, and biochemical or physicochemical cues for the repair of whole or partially injured tissue/organs
The emulsions formed after 14 h of uniform mixing at very high rpm, were observed under an inverted microscope to study the stability of the emulsion droplets (Figure 1)
The concentration of PCL being kept constant at 10% (w/v), silk fibroin (SF) concentration was varied to study the effects of incorporating different silk variation upon the physicochemical, mechanical, and interfacial properties of the nanofibrous electrospun mats. 10% (w/v) and 5% (w/v) of SF was chosen as the ‘aqueous phase’ in the whole emulsion system

Summary

Introduction

Tissue engineering amalgamates cells, engineered scaffold constructs, and biochemical or physicochemical cues for the repair of whole or partially injured tissue/organs. The role of tissue engineering holds great significance in the field of regenerative medicine sufficing the need for tissue constructs infiltrated with, either autologous or harvested cell source in case of severe tissue or organ damage [1,2]. Three important components forms the core of tissue engineered constructs. These include stem or specialized cells, scaffold matrices, and the incorporation of growth factors which would promote adhesion, migration, and proliferation of cells on the scaffold surface [3,4]. The choice of appropriate materials and scaffold fabrication techniques governs the requisite parameters needed for establishing optimum cell-material and cell–cell junction contacts [5]

Methods

Results

Conclusion