Abstract
Melt electrospinning is a promising approach to manufacture biocompatible scaffolds for tissue engineering. In this study, melt electrospinning of poly(ε-caprolactone) onto structured, metallic collectors resulted in scaffolds with an average pore size of 250–300 μm and an average fibre diameter of 15 μm. Scaffolds were seeded with ovine osteoblasts in vitro. Cell proliferation and deposition of mineralised extracellular matrix was assessed using PicoGreen® (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Scoresby, Australia) and WAKO® HR II (WAKO, Osaka, Japan) calcium assays. Biocompatibility, cell infiltration and the growth pattern of osteoblasts on scaffolds was investigated using confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Osteoblasts proliferated on the scaffolds over an entire 40-day culture period, with excellent survival rates and deposited mineralized extracellular matrix. In general, the 3D environment of the structured melt electrospun scaffold was favourable for osteoblast cultures.
Highlights
Tissue engineering (TE) unites principles of engineering with biology to develop constructs that restore, maintain or improve tissue functions [1]
Conventional scaffold fabrication methods including particulate leaching, gas foaming, solvent casting, phase separation and solution electrospinning are based on chemical processes and lack sufficient control over pore size, pore geometry and pore distribution to control cell–scaffold interactions [6]
We investigated the influence of pore geometry on bone formation in a calvarial scull defect model in vivo [52]
Summary
Tissue engineering (TE) unites principles of engineering with biology to develop constructs that restore, maintain or improve tissue functions [1]. One key area of TE research is the production of porous materials (scaffolds) to provide three-dimensional (3D) support for cell migration, proliferation and differentiation [2]. TE scaffolds are made from biocompatible materials to promote cell adhesion, cell migration as well as cell invasiveness and provide sufficient mechanical strength and stiffness to allow a certain amount of movement in the damaged tissue [3]. The scaffold fabrication process should allow systematic alteration of scaffold design to ensure a customisable and individualised scaffold architecture depending on the desired cell or tissue type [4]. Conventional scaffold fabrication methods including particulate leaching, gas foaming, solvent casting, phase separation and solution electrospinning are based on chemical processes and lack sufficient control over pore size, pore geometry and pore distribution to control cell–scaffold interactions [6]. Mentioned fabrication methods use organic solvents to dissolve synthetic polymers resulting in concerns regarding cell toxicity and carcinogenic potential [7]
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