Characterization of Tensile Mechanical Behavior of MSCs/PLCL Hybrid Layered Sheet

Abstract

A layered construct was developed by combining a porous polymer sheet and a cell sheet as a tissue engineered vascular patch. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the influence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) sheet on the tensile mechanical properties of porous poly-(l-lactide-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) sheet. The porous PLCL sheet was fabricated by the solid-liquid phase separation method and the following freeze-drying method. The MSCs sheet, prepared by the temperature-responsive dish, was then layered on the top of the PLCL sheet and cultured for 2 weeks. During the in vitro study, cellular properties such as cell infiltration, spreading and proliferation were evaluated. Tensile test of the layered construct was performed periodically to characterize the tensile mechanical behavior. The tensile properties were then correlated with the cellular properties to understand the effect of MSCs sheet on the variation of the mechanical behavior during the in vitro study. It was found that MSCs from the cell sheet were able to migrate into the PLCL sheet and actively proliferated into the porous structure then formed a new layer of MSCs on the opposite surface of the PLCL sheet. Mechanical evaluation revealed that the PLCL sheet with MSCs showed enhancement of tensile strength and strain energy density at the first week of culture which is characterized as the effect of MSCs proliferation and its infiltration into the porous structure of the PLCL sheet. New technique was presented to develop tissue engineered patch by combining MSCs sheet and porous PLCL sheet, and it is expected that the layered patch may prolong biomechanical stability when implanted in vivo.

Modular Orthopaedic Tissue Engineering With Implantable Microcarriers and Canine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

“…However, the majority of these studies characterize the mechanical properties of the biomaterials before seeding the cells. It is likely that the addition of cells will affect the mechanical properties of the constructs, as shown by studies comparing cell-laden and acellular scaffolds ( Silva-Correia et al, 2013 ; Pangesty et al, 2016 ). Thus, an increasing number of studies are now focusing on characterizing the mechanical properties of cell-laden biomaterial constructs, including electrospun fibrous mats ( Eap et al, 2015 ; Pangesty et al, 2016 ), hydrogels ( Huang et al, 2008 ), and microcarrier-based 3D constructs ( Zhou et al, 2016 ).…”

“…It is likely that the addition of cells will affect the mechanical properties of the constructs, as shown by studies comparing cell-laden and acellular scaffolds ( Silva-Correia et al, 2013 ; Pangesty et al, 2016 ). Thus, an increasing number of studies are now focusing on characterizing the mechanical properties of cell-laden biomaterial constructs, including electrospun fibrous mats ( Eap et al, 2015 ; Pangesty et al, 2016 ), hydrogels ( Huang et al, 2008 ), and microcarrier-based 3D constructs ( Zhou et al, 2016 ). Although more challenging to characterize, such “living” biomaterial constructs resemble more closely the target tissue where cells infiltrate and secrete ECM molecules giving rise to the unique structures reflected by the distinct mechanical characteristics of these tissues.…”

Investigation of Soft Matter Nanomechanics by Atomic Force Microscopy and Optical Tweezers: A Comprehensive Review

“…Then, Young’s modulus can be obtained from Equation (1). Tensile testing experiments have been carried out to address the mechanical properties of biodegradable cornstarch- [ 112 ], starch/dolomite- [ 113 ] or lignocellulosic- [ 114 , 115 ] based polymers, hydrogels made by carbon dots, hydroxyapatite and polyvinyl acetate [ 116 ] or chitosan-poly (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) double network [ 117 ], natural-rubber-modified flame-retardant organic montmorillonite [ 118 ] or chlorhexidine-loaded poly (amido amine) [ 119 ] dendrimers, blends consisting of fibrillar polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate [ 120 ] or poly ε-caprolactone/poly-(lactide-co-ε-caprolactone (PLCL) [ 121 ], polyurethane [ 122 ] and polyethylene [ 123 ] foams, organosilicone elastomer liquid crystals [ 124 ], and skeletal muscle tissues [ 125 ] or PLCL layered sheets with mesenchymal stem cells [ 126 ].…”

Improvement of Mechanical Strength of Tissue Engineering Scaffold Due to the Temperature Control of Polymer Blend Solution

“…The solid-liquid phase separation method was adopted to prepare the tubular scaffold, as mentioned in [22]. A cylindrical rod made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (Ø 10 mm) which was pre-cooled in −80 • C for 1 h was immediately immersed into the preheated blend solution and pulled out at a constant rate of 100 mm/min.…”