title: Poly (glycerol sebacate)-poly (ε-caprolactone) blend nanofibrous scaffold as intrinsic bio- and immunocompatible system for corneal repair.
abstract: A major challenge in corneal tissue engineering and lamellar corneal transplantation is to develop synthetic scaffolds able to simulate the optical and mechanical properties of the native cornea. As a carrier, the graft scaffolds should provide the basis for anchorage, repair and regeneration. Although quite a number of scaffolds have been engineered to date, they have not been able to simultaneously recapitulate chemical, mechanical, and structural properties of the corneal extracellular matrix (ECM). Here, we examined different compositions of elastomeric biodegradable poly (glycerol sebacate) (PGS)-poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibrous scaffolds with respect to their cyto- and immunocompatibility. These scaffolds were semi-transparent with well-defined mechanical properties and direct positive effects on viability of human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) and human conjunctival epithelial cells (HCjEC). Moreover, within 3days HCEC established monolayers with the hexagonal morphology typical for this cell type. All PGS-PCL mixtures analyzed did not trigger effects in granulocytes, naïve and activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). However, scaffolds with a higher content of PGS-PCL ratio showed the best cell organization, cyto- and immunocompatibility. Subsequently, this PGS-PCL composition could be used for further development of clinical constructs to support corneal tissue repair.
  
  
  
  In corneal tissue engineering a major challenge is the development of synthetic scaffolds with similar properties to native cornea. In our recent works, we introduced the biodegradable, polymeric nanofibrous scaffolds with similar optical and mechanical properties for corneal regeneration and here we examined the cyto- and immunocompatibility of biodegradable nanofibrous scaffolds in contact to white blood cells. Directing the alignment of human corneal cells by nanofibrous scaffolds and high viability of cells was detected by forming of endothelium monolayer with hexagonal morphology on the nanofibrous scaffold. In addition, our results for the first time show that these nanofibrous scaffolds did not trigger effects in white blood cells. These results highlight the considerable translational potential of the nanofibrous scaffolds to clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Research Group, Dep. of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, 8415683111 Isfahan, Iran; WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 980-8577 Sendai, Japan. Electronic address: salehi.sahar.d2@tohoku.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Czugala
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stafiej
authors.affiliation: Biomaterials Research Group, Dep. of Materials Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, 8415683111 Isfahan, Iran; Dental Materials Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 8174673461 Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadhossein
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fathi
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Textilforschungszentrum Nord-West gGmbH, 47798 Krefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bahners
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Textilforschungszentrum Nord-West gGmbH, 47798 Krefeld, Germany; Physical Chemistry & CENIDE, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45141 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Gutmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Fuchsluger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000473:pathology; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003651:Decanoates; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005453:Fluorescence; D005990:Glycerol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011108:Polymers; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003651:Decanoates; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C469892:poly(glycerol-sebacate); C016240:polycaprolactone; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Cornea; Cytocompatibility; Flow cytometry; Lamellar transplantation; Nanofiber; Tissue engineering