Abstract
The hypothesis of the present research is that by altering the substrate topography and/or stiffness to make it biomimetic, we can modulate cells behavior. Substrates with similar surface chemistry and varying stiffnesses and topographies were prepared. Bulk PCL and CNTs-reinforced PCL composites were manufactured by solvent casting method and electrospinning and further processed to obtain tunable moduli of elasticity in the range of few MPa. To ensure the same chemical profile for the substrates, a protein coating was added. Substrate topography and properties were investigated. Further on, the feedback of Wharton’s Jelly Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells to substrates characteristics was investigated. Solvent casting scaffolds displayed superior mechanical properties compared to the corresponding electrospun films. However, the biomimetic fibrous texture of the electrospun substrates induced improved feedback of the cells with respect to their viability and proliferation. Cells’ adhesion and differentiation was remarkably pronounced on solvent casting substrates compared to the electrospun substrates. Soft substates improved cells multiplication and migration, while stiff substrates induced differentiation into bone cells. Aspects related to the key factors and the ideal properties of substrates and microenvironments were clarified, aiming towards the deep understanding of the required optimum biomimetic features of biomaterials.
Highlights
Published: 31 December 2021The phenotypic expression and function of stem cells are regulated by their integrated response to variable microenvironmental cues [1]
Concerning cell population indicators, a test was conducted to measure their viability as division, multiplication, and appropriate migration are the very important functions that will lead to new tissue formation
Total protein, and their ratio were investigated to understand the balance between proliferation, adhesion, and differentiation, and to appreciate the extent to which the manufactured substrates may be used for stem cells differentiation into bone cells
Summary
Published: 31 December 2021The phenotypic expression and function of stem cells are regulated by their integrated response to variable microenvironmental cues [1]. The extracellular matrix (ECM) varies in composition, as well as in physical parameters, including stiffness and topography. With the development of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the potential effects of ECM physical properties on cell behavior at the cell–matrix interface are drawing much attention. The development of advanced biomaterials with desired characteristics that can adjust the biointerface between cells and the synthetic substrate, and mimic the natural properties of the ECM, becomes a great hotspot. Cellular responses are influenced by a multitude of factors in between which the substrate; some outstanding substrate characteristics which affect the quality of the biointerface and cells faith are chemistry [2], texture/topography [3], scale [4], and stiffness [5]. Decoding the mechanisms and measuring the extent to which each of these parameters affects the cell population faith is an elaborate task that depends on the cell type and the interaction with each substrate parameter and requires analyses of complex microenvironmental lab Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
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