Anisotropically oriented electrospun matrices with an imprinted periodic micropattern: a new scaffold for engineered muscle constructs.
Engineered muscle constructs provide a promising perspective on the regeneration or substitution of irreversibly damaged skeletal muscle. However, the highly ordered structure of native muscle tissue necessitates special consideration during scaffold development. Multiple approaches to the design of anisotropically structured substrates with grooved micropatterns or parallel-aligned fibres have previously been undertaken. In this study we report the guidance effect of a scaffold that combines both approaches, oriented fibres and a grooved topography. By electrospinning onto a topographically structured collector, matrices of parallel-oriented poly(ε-caprolactone) fibres with an imprinted wavy topography of 90 µm periodicity were produced. Matrices of randomly oriented fibres or parallel-oriented fibres without micropatterns served as controls. As previously shown, un-patterned, parallel-oriented substrates induced myotube orientation that is parallel to fibre direction. Interestingly, pattern addition induced an orientation of myotubes at an angle of 24° (statistical median) relative to fibre orientation. Myotube length was significantly increased on aligned micropatterned substrates in comparison to that on aligned substrates without pattern (436 ± 245 µm versus 365 ± 212 µm; p < 0.05). We report an innovative, yet simple, design to produce micropatterned electrospun scaffolds that induce an unexpected myotube orientation and an increase in myotube length.
Empa-Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St Gallen, Switzerland. geraldine.guex@empa.ch
Anne Géraldine
AG
Guex
Dominique Lisa
DL
Birrer
Giuseppino
G
Fortunato
Hendrik Tinorua
HT
Tevaearai
Marie-Noëlle
MN
Giraud
D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D021522:Bioartificial Organs; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000138:chemical synthesis; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D054802:Molecular Imprinting / Q000379:methods; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D012399:Rotation; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone