Cryogenic Electrospinning: Proposed Mechanism, Process Parameters and its Use in Engineering of Bilayered Tissue Structures

Abstract

Conventional electrospun scaffolds have very small pores, thus limiting cellular infiltration, tissue ingrowth and vascularization in tissue engineering applications. The cryogenic electrospinning process overcame the small pore size constraints found in conventional electrospun scaffolds. The aim of this paper is to propose a mechanism for cryogenic electrospinning and how scaffold pore size can be controlled. We studied the roles of ice crystals in controlling the pore size of cryogenic electrospun scaffolds (CES). Based on this understanding, we have successfully fabricated a bilayered scaffold with distinctly different pore sizes. Our study showed that CES pore size was dependent on the structure of the frost layer formed and hence the factors affecting ice deposition. The bilayered scaffold was able to support the coculture of human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The larger pores of CES add versatility to the use of electrospun scaffolds in tissue engineering applications.