title: Cell response to sterilized electrospun poly(ɛ-caprolactone) scaffolds to aid tendon regeneration in vivo.
abstract: The functional replacement of tendon represents an unmet clinical need in situations of tendon rupture, tendon grafting, and complex tendon reconstruction, as usually there is a finite source of healthy tendon to use as donors. The microfibrous architecture of tendon is critical to the function of tendon. This study investigates the use of electrospun poly(ɛ-caprolactone) scaffolds as potential biomaterial substitutes for tendon grafts. We assessed the performance of two electrospinning manufacturers (small- and large-scale) and the effect of two sterilization techniques-gamma irradiation and ethanol submersion-on cell response to these electrospun scaffolds after their implantation into a murine tendon model. Cell infiltration and proliferation analyses were undertaken to determine the effect on cell response within the implant over a 6-week period. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to characterize inflammatory response and healing characteristics (proliferation, collagen deposition, myofibroblast activity, and apoptosis). Neither the sterilization techniques nor the manufacturer was observed to significantly affect the cell response to the scaffold. At each time point, cell response was similar to the autograft control. This suggests that ethanol submersion can be used for research purposes and that the scaffold can be easily reproduced by a large-scale manufacturer. These results further imply that this electrospun scaffold may provide an alternative to autograft, thus eliminating the need for sourcing healthy tendon tissue from a secondary site. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 389-397, 2017.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Prajwal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.affiliation: School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Lucy A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bosworth
authors.affiliation: Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'brien
authors.affiliation: The Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company Ltd, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Haydn
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kriel
authors.affiliation: The Stellenbosch Nanofiber Company Ltd, Cape Town, South Africa.|Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.affiliation: Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Duncan A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McGrouther
authors.affiliation: Institute of Inflammation and Repair, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jason K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: School of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cartmell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D012038:Regeneration; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; C016240:polycaprolactone
keywords: electrospinning polycaprolactone; ethanol; gamma irradiation; sterilization; tendon repair