Polycaprolactone Microfibrous Scaffolds to Navigate Neural Stem Cells.
Fibrous scaffolds have shown promise in tissue engineering due to their ability to improve cell alignment and migration. In this paper, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers are fabricated in different sizes using a microfluidic platform. By using this approach, we demonstrated considerable flexibility in ability to control the size of the fibers. It was shown that the average diameter of the fibers was obtained in the range of 2.6-36.5 μm by selecting the PCL solution flow rate from 1 to 5 μL min-1and the sheath flow rate from 20 to 400 μL min-1in the microfluidic channel. The microfibers were used to create 3D microenvironments in order to investigate growth and differentiation of adult hippocampal stem/progenitor cells (AHPCs) in vitro. The results indicated that the 3D topography of the PCL substrates, along with chemical (extracellular matrix) guidance cues supported the adhesion, survival, and differentiation of the AHPCs. Additionally, it was found that the cell deviation angle for 44-66% of cells on different types of fibers was less than 10°. This reveals the functionality of PCL fibrous scaffolds for cell alignment important in applications such as reconnecting serious nerve injuries and guiding the direction of axon growth as well as regenerating blood vessels, tendons, and muscle tissue.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, ‡Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and §Center of Advanced Host Defense Immunobiotics and Translational Medicine, Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
Farrokh
F
Sharifi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, ‡Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and §Center of Advanced Host Defense Immunobiotics and Translational Medicine, Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
Bhavika B
BB
Patel
Department of Mechanical Engineering, ‡Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and §Center of Advanced Host Defense Immunobiotics and Translational Medicine, Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
Adam K
AK
Dzuilko
Department of Mechanical Engineering, ‡Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and §Center of Advanced Host Defense Immunobiotics and Translational Medicine, Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
Reza
R
Montazami
Department of Mechanical Engineering, ‡Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and §Center of Advanced Host Defense Immunobiotics and Translational Medicine, Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
Donald S
DS
Sakaguchi
Department of Mechanical Engineering, ‡Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology and Neuroscience, and §Center of Advanced Host Defense Immunobiotics and Translational Medicine, Iowa State University , Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
Nastaran
N
Hashemi
D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013710:Tendons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone