Induction of cell migration in vitro by an electrospun PDGF-BB/PLGA/PEG-PLA nanofibrous scaffold

Electrospinning is a versatile technique used to fabricate potential tissue engineering scaffolds with a structure similar to the native extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF)-BB with BSA as a carrier protein was incorporated into an electrospun PLGA/PEG-PLA composite scaffold for induction of cell migration, an early process necessary for tissue regeneration and wound healing. Incorporating PDGF-BB into the fibers did not change the overall morphology of the scaffold, with the exception of a slight increase (approximately 12%) in the number of fibers with diameters ranging from 1-100 nm. Following a strong burst of release during the initial 24 hours, approximately 20% of the total incorporated PDGF-BB was released from the scaffold over 5 days, as determined by ELISA. The presence of the released PDGF-BB was also confirmed via SDS-PAGE. Using an in vitro agarose-cell migration assay with MC3T3 pre-osteoblastic cells, the preserved bioactivity of the released PDGF-BB was demonstrated via its ability to stimulate robust cell migration, equivalent to that of pure unincorporated (control) PDGF-BB. Overall, this study demonstrates that it is feasible to incorporate and deliver bioactive PDGF-BB via an electrospun scaffold for potential tissue repair applications, especially as a potent inducer of cell migration.