Elastomeric Fibrous Hybrid Scaffold Supports In Vitro and In Vivo Tissue Formation

Abstract

Biomimetic materials with biomechanical properties resembling those of native tissues while providing an environment for cell growth and tissue formation, are vital for tissue engineering (TE). Mechanical anisotropy is an important property of native cardiovascular tissues and directly influences tissue function. This study reports fabrication of anisotropic cell‐seeded constructs while retaining control over the construct's architecture and distribution of cells. Newly synthesized poly‐4‐hydroxybutyrate (P4HB) is fabricated with a dry spinning technique to create anelastomeric fibrous scaffold that allows control of fiber diameter, porosity, and rate ofdegradation. To allow cell and tissue ingrowth, hybrid scaffolds with mesenchymalstem cells (MSCs) encapsulated in a photocrosslinkable hydrogel were developed. Culturing the cellularized scaffolds in a cyclic stretch/flexure bioreactor resulted in tissue formation and confirmed the scaffold's performance under mechanical stimulation. In vivo experiments showed that the hybrid scaffold is capable of withstanding physiological pressures when implanted as a patch in the pulmonary artery. Aligned tissue formation occurred on the scaffold luminal surface without macroscopic thrombus formation. This combination of a novel, anisotropic fibrous scaffold and a tunable native‐like hydrogel for cellular encapsulation promoted formation of 3D tissue and provides a biologically functional composite scaffold for soft‐tissue engineering applications.

Nanofibrous Composite with Tailorable Electrical and Mechanical Properties for Cardiac Tissue Engineering

“…In comparison to other materials used for cardiac tissue engineering, our fiber mats are regarding elastic modulus and tensile strength closer to the native myocardium (electrospun fiber mats of poly(lactic‐ co ‐glycolic acid)/collagen: an elastic modulus of 26.37 MPa and a tensile strength of 1.39 MPa; collagen and poly(glycerol sebacate)/collagen fiber mats: elastic moduli of 30.11 and 4.24 MPa, respectively; fiber mats of poly hydroxybutyrate: an elastic modulus of ≈6 MPa).…”

“…Mater. 2020, 30,1908612 amplitude as well as connexin 43 expression accompanied by a regular rhythmic beating.…”

“…Mater. 2020, 30,1908612 [18] whereas others reported an impairment of mechanical properties due to the incorporation of PANi. [19] Human myocardium has an end-diastolic Young's modulus in the range of 0.2-0.5 MPa and tensile strength between 3 and 15 kPa.…”

“…This was particularly interesting as theoretical simulations of cardiac mechanics revealed beneficial effects of a higher stiffness values (200% of the average stiffness of the passive myocardium) of cardiac patches for a better function of injured heart [27] including reducing the infarct expansion and global left ventricle remodeling due to decreased wall stress. [27] In comparison to other materials used for cardiac tissue engineering, our fiber mats are regarding elastic modulus and tensile strength closer to the native myocardium (electrospun fiber mats of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/collagen: an elastic modulus of 26.37 MPa and a tensile strength of 1.39 MPa; [28] collagen and poly(glycerol sebacate)/collagen fiber mats: elastic moduli of 30.11 and 4.24 MPa, respectively; [29] fiber mats of poly hydroxybutyrate: an elastic modulus of ≈6 MPa [30] ).…”

“…Mater. 2020, 30,1908612 cardiomyocytes for their sub-and intercellular organizations. In order to investigate whether incorporation of PANi affects cellular attachment, cytoskeletal arrangement, or intercellular communications, cardiomyocytes were stained for the cardiacspecific markers sarcomeric α-actinin, cardiac troponin I, as well as connexin 43 at day 5.…”