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Fiber alignment directs cell motility over chemotactic gradients
Harini G Sundararaghavan1, Randi L Saunders, Daniel A Hammer
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, 5050 Anthony Wayne Dr #2150, Detroit, MI 48201. hsundara@wayne.edu
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|November 23, 2012
Summary
Topographical cues from electrospun fibers significantly influence cell migration, often overriding chemical signals. This finding is crucial for designing effective tissue engineering scaffolds with controlled cell distribution.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Cell Biology
- Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Tissue engineered scaffolds guide cell behavior, with cell migration directed by chemical, adhesive, mechanical, and topographical cues.
- Electrospinning creates fibrous scaffolds mimicking the extracellular matrix, offering control over topography but facing challenges in uniform cell distribution due to limited infiltration.
- Hyaluronic acid electrospun fibers serve as a model system to investigate cell motility in response to combined topographical and chemical stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the motility of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on electrospun hyaluronic acid fibers under a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gradient.
- To determine the relative influence of topographical cues (fiber alignment) and chemical cues (VEGF gradient) on HUVEC migration direction and persistence.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing time-lapse microscopy to observe and quantify HUVEC behavior on aligned and randomly oriented electrospun hyaluronic acid fibers.
- Measuring cell aspect ratio and migration angle to assess directionality in response to chemical gradients and fiber alignment.
- Quantifying persistence time to evaluate the combined effects of topographical and chemical cues on cell motility.
Main Results:
- HUVEC migration direction was predominantly dictated by the topographical cues of aligned electrospun fibers.
- An additive effect was observed between chemical gradients and fiber alignment on cell persistence time.
- When fiber alignment was perpendicular to the chemical gradient, fiber alignment dominated cell direction, negating the chemical gradient's influence.
Conclusions:
- Topographical cues from aligned electrospun fibers are more influential than chemical gradients in directing HUVEC motility.
- Material design for tissue engineering scaffolds should prioritize topographical features to effectively control cell distribution and behavior.
- Understanding the interplay between topography and chemical signals is essential for optimizing scaffold performance in regenerative medicine.
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