title: Hierarchically engineered fibrous scaffolds for bone regeneration.
abstract: Surface properties of biomaterials play a major role in the governing of cell functionalities. It is well known that mechanical, chemical and nanotopographic cues, for example, influence cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, we present a novel coating protocol to produce hierarchically engineered fibrous scaffolds with tailorable surface characteristics, which mimic bone extracellular matrix. Based on the sol-gel method and a succession of surface treatments, hollow electrospun polylactic acid fibres were coated with a silicon-calcium-phosphate bioactive organic-inorganic glass. Compared with pure polymeric fibres that showed a completely smooth surface, the coated fibres exhibited a nanostructured topography and greater roughness. They also showed improved hydrophilic properties and a Young's modulus sixfold higher than non-coated ones, while remaining fully flexible and easy to handle. Rat mesenchymal stem cells cultured on these fibres showed great cellular spreading and interactions with the material. This protocol can be transferred to other structures and glasses, allowing the fabrication of various materials with well-defined features. This novel approach represents therefore a valuable improvement in the production of artificial matrices able to direct stem cell fate through physical and chemical interactions.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Nadège
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sachot
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Castaño
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mateos-Timoneda
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engel
authors.forename: Josep A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Planell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D013499:Surface Properties; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible
keywords: fibres; functional coating; hybrid materials; nanostructures; tissue engineering