title: Electrospun Scaffolds for Osteoblast Cells: Peptide-Induced Concentration-Dependent Improvements of Polycaprolactone.
abstract: The design of hybrid poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL)-self-assembling peptides (SAPs) matrices represents a simple method for the surface functionalization of synthetic scaffolds, which is essential for cell compatibility. This study investigates the influence of increasing concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10% and 15% w/w SAP compared to PCL) of three different SAPs on the physico-chemical/mechanical and biological properties of PCL fibers. We demonstrated that physico-chemical surface characteristics were slightly improved at increasing SAP concentrations: the fiber diameter increased; surface wettability increased with the first SAP addition (2.5%) and slightly less for the following ones; SAP-surface density increased but no change in the conformation was registered. These results could allow engineering matrices with structural characteristics and desired wettability according to the needs and the cell system used. The biological and mechanical characteristics of these scaffolds showed a particular trend at increasing SAP concentrations suggesting a prevailing correlation between cell behavior and mechanical features of the matrices. As compared with bare PCL, SAP enrichment increased the number of metabolic active h-osteoblast cells, fostered the expression of specific osteoblast-related mRNA transcripts, and guided calcium deposition, revealing the potential application of PCL-SAP scaffolds for the maintenance of osteoblast phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dettin
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Annj
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zamuner
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roso
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gloria
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University "Roma Tre", Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Grazia M L
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.affiliation: Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials-National Research Council of Italy, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: D'Amora
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marletta
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Modesti
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Castagliuolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brun
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D011091:Polyesters; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C016240:polycaprolactone; D002118:Calcium