Poly-caprolactone nanofibrous coated with sol-gel alginate/ mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage tissue engineering

Abstract

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AMSCs) were encapsulated in alginate sol and coated on PCL nanofibers to produce a scaffold. The alginate solution was generated in three different concentrations (0.5%, 2%, and 3.5%) in the specified scaffold, and the resulting solutions were ionic cross-linked to prepare coated networks on the PCL nanofibers. We analyzed the samples using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests. The electrospinning method and coating alginate on PCL with a calcium chloride cross-linker were both successful, according to the SEM and FTIR data. The behaviors of AMSCs in in-vitro conditions were evaluated by viability and chondrogenic potential of alginate gel through MTT, DAPI, alcian staining, and immunofluorescence (ICC) assay, respectively. The results showed that PCL/Alg scaffolds not only support the adhesion and proliferation of AMSCs but also can enhance their chondrogenic differentiation without applying any external differential agent. The cells adequately exhibited the COLLAGEN type Ⅱ expression as a chondrogenic differentiation marker. As a result, alginate gels with cells coated on PCL nanofibers have a lot of potential for building bioactive networks as a substrate in cartilage tissue engineering.