Novel nanostructured biodegradable polymer matrices fabricated by phase separation techniques for tissue regeneration

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Biodegradable polymer nanostructures mimicking extracellular matrix offer potential for enhanced cell interactions.
• Developing reproducible nanostructured matrices is crucial for advanced biomedical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel co-solvent system for fabricating reproducible biodegradable polymer nanostructures.
• To evaluate the osteoinductive potential of these nanostructures for bone tissue regeneration.
• To explore antimicrobial properties of modified nanofibers.

Main Methods:

• A co-solvent system was used to create metastable polymer solutions for phase separation (wet or combined with thermal methods).
• Particle-leaching with glucose was employed to create 3D porous nanostructured matrices.
• In vitro cell culture with pre-osteoblasts (MC3T3-E1) and mesenchymal stem cells (hBM-MSC) was performed.
• Plasma-assisted coating of chitosan was used to create antimicrobial nanofibers.

Main Results:

• Nanofibrous membranes (<100nm) enhanced bone-related gene expression and matrix mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells.
• 3D nanofibrous matrices increased bone matrix deposition by 2.5-fold in hBM-MSC cultures compared to microporous controls.
• Antimicrobial nanofibers were successfully fabricated via chitosan coating.

Conclusions:

• The developed co-solvent system provides a versatile platform for fabricating reproducible biodegradable nanostructured matrices from various polymers (PLA, PCL).
• These nanostructured matrices show significant potential for bone tissue regeneration and developing antimicrobial materials.
• This platform offers a promising approach for future tissue engineering applications.