title: Biosilica-loaded poly(ϵ-caprolactone) nanofibers mats provide a morphogenetically active surface scaffold for the growth and mineralization of the osteoclast-related SaOS-2 cells.
abstract: Bioprinting/3D cell printing procedures for the preparation of scaffolds/implants have the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine. Besides biocompatibility and biodegradability, the hardness of the scaffold material is of critical importance to allow sufficient mechanical protection and, to the same extent, allow migration, cell-cell, and cell-substrate contact formation of the matrix-embedded cells. In the present study, we present a strategy to encase a bioprinted, cell-containing, and soft scaffold with an electrospun mat. The electrospun poly(ϵ-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers mats, containing tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), were subsequently incubated with silicatein. Silicatein synthesizes polymeric biosilica by polycondensation of ortho-silicate that is formed from prehydrolyzed TEOS. Biosilica provides a morphogenetically active matrix for the growth and mineralization of osteoblast-related SaOS-2 cells in vitro. Analysis of the microstructure of the 300-700 nm thick PCL/TEOS nanofibers, incubated with silicatein and prehydrolyzed TEOS, displayed biosilica deposits on the mats formed by the nanofibers. We conclude and propose that electrospun PCL nanofibers mats, coated with biosilica, may represent a morphogenetically active and protective cover for bioprinted cell/tissue-like units with a suitable mechanical stability, even if the cells are embedded in a softer matrix.
authors.affiliation: ERC Advanced Investigator Grant Research Group at Institute for Physiological Chemistry, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. wmueller@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Werner E G
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Emad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tolba
authors.forename: Heinz C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Bärbel
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Diehl-Seifert
authors.forename: Thorben
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Link
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D001709:Biotechnology; D002113:Calcification, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: 3D cell printing/bioprinting; Biosilica; Electrospinning; Hydroxyapatite formation; SaOS-2 cells