Development of dual-functional nanofibrous scaffolds for skin tissue engineering

Abstract

Recent tissue engineering strategy has been incorporated with biomimetic engineering mimicking the characteristics of the nature. Especially, electrospun nanofibrous meshes, one of the representative tissue engineering scaffolds, have successfully emulated fibrous structure of native extracellular matrix. In this study, we developed biomimetic PLCL nanofibers, which can be used in skin tissue engineering. To introduce functional groups on the nanofibers, we grafted acrylic acids on them using γ-ray irradiation, and then epidermal growth factor (hEGF) and gelatin, as bioactive molecules, were further immobilized. Surface morphology of the fibers was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, and alteration of surface property was evaluated with toluidine blue O staining, water contact angle measurement and ATR-FTIR analysis. Moreover, immobilized hEGF and gelatin were quantified by ELISA and fluorescamine assay. Finally, hMSCs were cultured on the biomimetic nanofibers, and we investigated adhesion, proliferation and spreading of the cells on the nanofibers using MTT and fluorescent staining. The functionalized nanofibers successfully regulated the adhesion, proliferation and spreading of hMSc and differentiation of hMSCs to epidermal lineage was also enhanced on the nanofibers. Therefore, our biomimetic strategy using radiation may be alternative tools for tissue engineering application