Composite tissue engineering on polycaprolactone nanofiber scaffolds.
Tissue engineering has largely focused on single tissue-type reconstruction (such as bone); however, the basic unit of healing in any clinically relevant scenario is a compound tissue type (such as bone, periosteum, and skin). Nanofibers are submicron fibrils that mimic the extracellular matrix, promoting cellular adhesion, proliferation, and migration. Stem cell manipulation on nanofiber scaffolds holds significant promise for future tissue engineering. This work represents our initial efforts to create the building blocks for composite tissue reflecting the basic unit of healing. Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were electrospun using standard techniques. Human foreskin fibroblasts, murine keratinocytes, and periosteal cells (4-mm punch biopsy) harvested from children undergoing palate repair were grown in appropriate media on PCL nanofibers. Human fat-derived mesenchymal stem cells were osteoinduced on PCL nanofibers. Cell growth was assessed with fluorescent viability staining; cocultured cells were differentiated using antibodies to fibroblast- and keratinocyte-specific surface markers. Osteoinduction was assessed with Alizarin red S. PCL nanofiber scaffolds supported robust growth of fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and periosteal cells. Cocultured periosteal cells (with fibroblasts) and keratinocytes showed improved longevity of the keratinocytes, though growth of these cell types was randomly distributed throughout the scaffold. Robust osteoinduction was noted on PCL nanofibers. Composite tissue engineering using PCL nanofiber scaffolds is possible, though the major obstacles to the trilaminar construct are maintaining an appropriate interface between the tissue types and neovascularization of the composite structure.
Reed
Courtney R
CR
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7195, USA.
Han
Li
L
Andrady
Anthony
A
Caballero
Montserrat
M
Jack
Megan C
MC
Collins
James B
JB
Saba
Salim C
SC
Loboa
Elizabeth G
EG
Cairns
Bruce A
BA
van Aalst
John A
JA
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002470:Cell Survival; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D052816:Foreskin / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D049329:Nanostructures; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010521:Periosteum / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D011091:Polyesters; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone