Electrospun nanofiber meshes with tailored architectures and patterns as potential tissue-engineering scaffolds

Abstract

Using a stainless steel mesh as a template collector, electrospun nanofiber meshes with well-tailored architectures and patterns were successfully prepared from biodegradable poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). It was found that the resulting PCL nanofiber (NF) meshes had similar topological structures to that of the template stainless steel mesh. Such PCL nanofiber meshes (NF meshes) had improved the tensile strength with Young's modulus of 62.7 +/- 5.3 MPa, which is >40% higher than the modulus of 44 +/- 5.7 MPa as measured with the corresponding randomly oriented PCL nanofiber mats (RNF mat). On the other hand, the ultimate strain (87.30%) of the PCL NF meshes was distinctly lower than that of the PCL RNF mats (146.46%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the mechanical properties of nanofiber meshes with tailored architectures and patterns were studied and reported. When cultured with a mouse osteoblastic cell line (MC3T3-E1), the electrospun PCL NF meshes gave a much higher proliferation rate as compared with the randomly oriented PCL RNF mats. More importantly, it was found that the cells grew and elongated along the fiber orientation directions, and the resulted cellular organization and distribution mimicked the topological structures of the PCL NF meshes. These results indicated that the electrospun nanofiber scaffolds with tailored architectures and patterns hold potential for engineering functional tissues or organs, where an ordered cellular organization is essential.

A facile route for controlled alignment of carbon nanotube-reinforced, electrospun nanofibers using slotted collector plates

“…Another approach was developed by Chvojka et al [22] who produced PVA nano yarns using a special saw-like collector, by twisting electrospun PVA nanofibers and introduced a simple analysis of the field strength that causes the prevailing unidirectional fiber deposition between neighbouring lamellae of a special saw-like collector. Few groups have also worked on producing aligned fibers by using collector plates of special designs [23][24][25]. But, it is difficult to understand how the electric field behaves in each of these types of collector designs.…”

Hierarchically Structured Electrospun Fibers

“…Unaligned or randomly oriented fibers are traditionally collected on a static substrate, such as a grounded metal plate. To generate micro-or macro-scale patterns of nanofibers, researchers have explored the use of conductive grids or a series of charged needles to guide the collection of fibers along the charged regions [17][18][19]65]. Li et al developed a variety of aligned cross-bar patterns using a layer-by-layer approach with series of conductive grids with void gaps [66].…”

“…Some collectors possess unique geometries to affect particular fiber orientation or patterns. Theron et al used a knife-edge collector to generate highly aligned fibers, whereas others have used collectors with grids or charged needles to create patterned nanofibrous mats [15][16][17][18][19]. Several researchers have used a series of parallel electrodes to generate aligned fibers rather than rotating collectors [20][21][22][23].…”

Electrospun nanofibrous materials for tissue engineering and drug delivery

“…They suggested that the biocomposite PLLA/collagen/HA nanofibrous scaffold could improve the proliferation and mineralization of osteoblasts, resulting in the enhancement of bone regeneration [71]. Recently, Wang et al successfully fabricated electrospun fibrous scaffold with well-tailored architectures and patterns from PCL using a stainless steel mesh as the template collector [72]. The patterned electrospun PCL scaffold showed a much higher cell proliferation rate as compared with the PCL scaffold with random fibrous structure in a mouse osteoblastic cell MC3T3-E1.…”