title: Endothelial cell colonization and angiogenic potential of combined nano- and micro-fibrous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.
abstract: Presently the majority of tissue engineering approaches aimed at regenerating bone relies only on post-implantation vascularization. Strategies that include seeding endothelial cells (ECs) on biomaterials and promoting their adhesion, migration and functionality might be a solution for the formation of vascularized bone. Nano/micro-fiber-combined scaffolds have an innovative structure, inspired by extracellular matrix (ECM) that combines a nano-network, aimed to promote cell adhesion, with a micro-fiber mesh that provides the mechanical support. In this work we addressed the influence of this nano-network on growth pattern, morphology, inflammatory expression profile, expression of structural proteins, homotypic interactions and angiogenic potential of human EC cultured on a scaffold made of a blend of starch and poly(caprolactone). The nano-network allowed cells to span between individual micro-fibers and influenced cell morphology. Furthermore, on nano-fibers as well as on micro-fibers ECs maintained the physiological expression pattern of the structural protein vimentin and PECAM-1 between adjacent cells. In addition, ECs growing on the nano/micro-fiber-combined scaffold were sensitive to pro-inflammatory stimulus. Under pro-angiogenic conditions in vitro, the ECM-like nano-network provided the structural and organizational stability for ECs' migration and organization into capillary-like structures. The architecture of nano/micro-fiber-combined scaffolds elicited and guided the 3D distribution of ECs without compromising the structural requirements for bone regeneration.
authors.affiliation: 3B's Research Group - Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Marina I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Kadriye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tuzlakoglu
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Manuela E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Ronald E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piskin
authors.forename: Rui L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: C James
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014746:Vimentin