title: Thymosin β4 coated nanofiber scaffolds for the repair of damaged cardiac tissue.
abstract: After a cardiac event, proper treatment and care of the damaged tissue is crucial in restoring optimal cardiac function and preventing future cardiac events. Recently, thymosin β4 has been found to play a vital role in cardiac cell health and development by regulating angiogenesis, inflammatory responses, and wound healing. We proposed that defined poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) nanoscaffolds coated with thymosin β4 could efficiently differentiate murine-derived cardiomyocytes into functioning cardiac tissue. PCL nanoscaffolds were developed through electrospinning technology, and subsequently coated with a thymosin β4 solution. Cardiomyocytes were seeded on coated and uncoated nanoscaffolds and observed for six days via fluorescent and electron microscopy. Our results demonstrated a robust growth and differentiation of cardiomyocytes on coated nanoscaffolds compared with uncoated, showing potential for nanoscaffold-mediated cardiac cell replacement in vivo after an MI or other cardiac event.
authors.affiliation: Nanomedicine Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. arunk@udel.edu.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Duvalsaint
authors.forename: Mehir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Edward D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D013947:Thymosin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4)
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D013947:Thymosin; D000099201:Thymosin beta(4); C016240:polycaprolactone