![]() The size and microstructure of the fibers comprising an electrospun scaffold are dependent on several parameters related to the intrinsic properties of the initial polymer solution to be spun and to the processing conditions. Due to the versatility of this technique, electrospun scaffolds have already been applied in several areas of tissue engineering including cardiovascular ( Heydarkhan-Hagvall et al., 2008), musculoskeletal ( Li et al., 2007), and neural tissue engineering ( Yang et al., 2004 Nisbet et al., 2007), as well as to study how to control stem cell activity ( Li et al., 2005 Suwantong et al., 2007). It is a highly flexible method of producing continuous fibers with diameters within the micron to sub-micron range out of a wide range of materials comprising natural and synthetic polymers, composites and ceramics ( Cao et al., 2009). Scaffolds must be (i) porous to allow cell growth and flow transport of nutrients and metabolic waste (ii) bioresorbable and biocompatible with controllable degradation or resorption rates to match the rate of tissue regeneration (iii) have adequate surface chemistry for cell attachment and formation of new tissue (iv) and suitable mechanical properties to match those of the tissues at the site of implantation ( Kim and Mooney, 1998 Hutmacher et al., 2001).Įlectrospinning (ESP) is an electrostatically driven technology able to produce scaffolds that can mimic the architecture (geometry, morphology, and/or topography) as well as physico-chemical properties of extracellular matrix (ECM) in a simple manner with reduced associated costs ( Mengyan Li et al., 2005). To engineer living tissues in biomaterial-based strategies, biodegradable scaffolds are an important element providing the cells with an environment necessary for seeding, proliferation, invasion, and differentiation until defining the final shape of the regenerated tissue ( Hutmacher, 2000 Zhang et al., 2007). The paradigm of tissue engineering is the regeneration of tissues and organs using cells and biomaterial-based approaches alone or in combination, for the replacement, or repair of damaged native tissues. Human Dermal Fibroblasts were cultured on PCL and PCL/Alginate scaffolds in order to create a dermal substitute. These newly developed scaffolds may find useful applications for tissue engineering strategies as they resemble physical and chemical properties of tissue ECM. Cross-linking and washing of alginate electrospun scaffolds resulted in smaller fiber diameter. On the other hand, the mesh pore size increased with increasing air gap, while the effect of flow rate was not significant. The fiber diameter increased with increasing flow rate, while there was no substantial influence of the air gap. Scaffolds were electrospun at different flow rates and distances between spinneret and collector (air gap), and the resulting meshes were characterized in terms of fiber morphology, diameter, and mesh inter-fiber pore size. Polyethylene oxide (PEO), PCL, and PEOT/PBT were used as a carrier of Alginate. Thus, this study aims at creating electrospun meshes made of blended synthetic and natural polymers for tissue engineering applications. While synthetic polymers can mimic the physical features of native ECM, natural polymers like alginate are better suited to recapitulate its hydrated state or introduce functional groups that are recognized by cells (e.g., –NH 2). Synthetic polymers as poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and poly (ethylene oxide terephthalate)-poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) have been often used to produce scaffolds due to their good processability, mechanical properties, and suitable biocompatibility. 2MERLN Institute for Technology-inspired Regenerative Medicine, Complex Tissue Regeneration Department, Maastricht University, Maastricht, NetherlandsĮlectrospinning is an attractive fabrication process providing a cost-effective and straightforward technic to make extra-cellular matrix (ECM) mimicking scaffolds that can be used to replace or repair injured tissues and organs.1Tissue Regeneration Department, Institute for BioMedical Technology and Technical Medicine, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands.Ana Rita Gonçalves de Pinho 1, Ines Odila 1, Anne Leferink 1, Clemens van Blitterswijk 1,2, Sandra Camarero-Espinosa 2 and Lorenzo Moroni 1,2 *
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