Cellular incorporation into electrospun nanofibers: retained viability, proliferation, and function in fibroblasts.
Nanofibers are an emerging scaffold for tissue engineering. To date no one has reported cell incorporation into nanofibers. Human foreskin fibroblasts and human adipose-derived adult stem cells (hADAS) were grown to confluence, resuspended in phosphate-buffered saline, and then solubilized in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Nanofibers were created using an electrospinning technique across an electric potential of 20 kV. Cell interaction with nanofibers was assessed with optical microscopic imaging and scanning electron microscopy. PVA nanofibers with incorporated cells were then solubilized in phosphate-buffered saline; cell viability was assessed by trypan blue exclusion. Viable cells were allowed to proliferate. Chondrogenesis in fibroblasts was induced with TGF-beta1. Both fibroblasts and hADAS survived the electrospinning process and were incorporated into PVA nanofibers. hADAS cell proliferation was negligible; however, fibroblasts proliferated and showed retained ability to undergo chondrogenesis. Cells can be incorporated into nanofibers, with maintained viability, proliferation, and function.
van Aalst
John A
JA
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA. john_vanaalst@med.unc.edu
Reed
Courtney R
CR
Han
Li
L
Andrady
Tony
T
Hromadka
Michael
M
Bernacki
Susan
S
Kolappa
Kamalkumar
K
Collins
James B
JB
Loboa
Elizabeth G
EG
D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D011108:Polymers