Electrospinning is a method in which materials in solution are formed into nano- and micro-sized continuous fibers. Recent interest in this technique stems from both the topical nature of nanoscale material fabrication and the considerable potential for use of these nanoscale fibres in a range of applications including, amongst others, a range of biomedical applications processes such as drug delivery and the use of scaffolds to provide a framework for tissue regeneration in both soft and hard tissue applications systems. The objectives of this review are to describe the theory behind the technique, examine the effect of changing the process parameters on fiber morphology, and discuss the application and impact of electrospinning on the fields of vascular, neural, bone, cartilage, and tendon/ligament tissue engineering.
Endothelialization of vascular grafts prior to implantation has been investigated widely to enhance biocompatibility and antithrombogenicity. Thrombosis of artificial vessels is typically caused by platelet adhesion and agglomeration following endothelial cells detachment when exposed to the shear stress of blood circulation. The present study thus aimed at preventing platelet adhesion and aggregation onto biomaterials before the endothelial confluence is fully achieved. We report this modification of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds, both to impart hemocompatibility to prevent platelet adhesion and aggregation before the endothelial confluence is fully achieved and to support EC growth to accelerate endothelialization. The modification was achieved by covalent immobilization of sulfated silk fibroin on PLGA scaffolds using γ irradiation. Using phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as an aging medium, it was demonstrated that the scaffolds prepared by γ irradiation had a good retention of sulfated silk fibroin. The systematic in vitro hemocompatibility evaluation revealed that sulfated silk fibroin covalently immobilized PLGA (S-PLGA) scaffolds-reduced platelet adhesion and activation, prolonged whole blood clotting time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), and prothrombin time (PT). To evaluate further in vitro cytocompatibility of the scaffolds, we seeded vascular ECs on the scaffolds and cultured them for 2 weeks. The ECs were seen to attach and proliferate well on S-PLGA scaffolds, forming cell aggregates that gradually increased in size and fused with adjacent cell aggregates to form a monolayer covering the scaffold surface. Moreover, it was demonstrated through the gene transcript levels and the protein expressions of EC-specific markers that the cell functions of ECs on S-PLGA scaffolds were better preserved than those on PLGA scaffolds. Therefore, this study has described the generation of a vascular graft that possesses the unique ability to display excellent hemocompatibility while simultaneously supporting extensive endothelialization.
Regenerative medicine consisting of cells and materials provides a new way for the repair and regeneration of tissues and organs. Nano-biomaterials are highlighted due to their advantageous features compared with conventional micro-materials. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of micro-/nano- sized hydroxyapatite (μ/n-HA) on the osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). μ/n-HA were prepared by a microwave synthesizer and precipitation method, respectively. Different sizes of μ/n-HA were characterized by IR, XRD, SEM, TEM and co-cultured with rBMSCs. It was shown that rBMSCs expressed higher levels of osteoblast-related markers by n-HA than μ-HA stimulation. The size of HA is an important factor for affecting the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs. This provides a new avenue for mechanistic studies of stem cell differentiation and a new approach to obtain more committed differentiated cells.
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