title: Robust fabrication of electrospun-like polymer mats to direct cell behaviour.
abstract: Currently, cell culture systems that include nanoscale topography are widely used in order to provide cells additional cues closer to the in vivo environment, seeking to mimic the natural extracellular matrix. Electrospinning is one of the most common techniques to produce nanofiber mats. However, since many sensitive parameters play an important role in the process, a lack of reproducibility is a major drawback. Here we present a simple and robust methodology to prepare reproducible electrospun-like samples. It consists of a polydimethylsiloxane mold reproducing the fiber pattern to solvent-cast a polymer solution and obtain the final sample. To validate this methodology, poly(L-lactic) acid (PLLA) samples were obtained and, after characterisation, bioactivity and ability to direct cell response were assessed. C2C12 myoblasts developed focal adhesions on the electrospun-like fibers and, when cultured under myogenic differentiation conditions, similar differentiation levels to electrospun PLLA fibers were obtained.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain. Division of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8LT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ballester-Beltrán
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lebourg
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Capella
authors.forename: Andres
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaz Lantada
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmerón-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D051379:Mice; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers