Abstract
We report the preparation of novel magnetic field-responsive tissue substitutes based on biocompatible multi-domain magnetic particles dispersed in a fibrin–agarose biopolymer scaffold. We characterized our biomaterials with several experimental techniques. First we analyzed their microstructure and found that it was strongly affected by the presence of magnetic particles, especially when a magnetic field was applied at the start of polymer gelation. In these samples we observed parallel stripes consisting of closely packed fibers, separated by more isotropic net-like spaces. We then studied the viability of oral mucosa fibroblasts in the magnetic scaffolds and found no significant differences compared to positive control samples. Finally, we analyzed the magnetic and mechanical properties of the tissue substitutes. Differences in microstructural patterns of the tissue substitutes correlated with their macroscopic mechanical properties. We also found that the mechanical properties of our magnetic tissue substitutes could be reversibly tuned by noncontact magnetic forces. This unique advantage with respect to other biomaterials could be used to match the mechanical properties of the tissue substitutes to those of potential target tissues in tissue engineering applications.
Highlights
Biomaterials intended for applications in regenerative medicine must imitate the histological structure of natural tissues
The magnetic tissue substitutes (M-MF0, M-MF16, M-MF32, M-MF48) were similar in appearance to nonmagnetic tissue substitutes (Ctrl-MF0, Ctrl-MF16, Ctrl-MF32, Ctrl-MF48, Ctrl-NP), the former were darker than control tissue substitutes without particles (Ctrl-MF0 to Ctrl-MF48), which were whitish and semitransparent, and control tissue substitutes with nonmagnetic particles (Ctrl-NP), which were bright white
We found that in the magnetic tissue substitute gelled in the absence of an applied magnetic field (M-MF0), as well as the control tissue substitute with nonmagnetic polymer particles (Ctrl-NP), the particles were distributed randomly in an isotropic, homogeneous pattern (Fig 1B and 1C)
Summary
Biomaterials intended for applications in regenerative medicine must imitate the histological structure of natural tissues. They should meet a number of requirements, including biocompatibility [1,2,3,4]. Various scaffold materials have been tested, including both naturallyderived and synthetic polymers. Natural materials provide a physiological environment for cell adhesion and proliferation, they have several disadvantages, such as their suboptimal mechanical properties [5,6,7,8]. Synthetic materials are extensively used because of their easy molding characteristics, relatively easy production and their ability to control dissolution and PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0133878. Synthetic materials are extensively used because of their easy molding characteristics, relatively easy production and their ability to control dissolution and PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0133878 July 24, 2015
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