The influence of laser-induced 3-D titania nanofibrous platforms on cell behavior

The current challenge in tissue engineering is to design a platform that can provide appropriate topography and suitable surface chemistry to encourage desired cellular activities and to guide 3-D tissue regeneration. Compared with traditional cell culture materials, 3-D nanofibrous platforms offer a superior environment for promoting cell functions by mimicking the architecture of extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, we present a technique to engineer freestanding 3-D titania nanofibrous structures on titanium substrates using femtosecond laser processing. The crystallinity, surface adhesion, and surface energy of the synthesized nanostructures are discussed. The effects of synthesized nanoarchitectures on the proliferation, morphology, and viability of MC3T3-E1 mouse osteoblast-like cells and NIH 3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblasts are investigated. The nanofibrous structures show high surface energy and hydrophilicity. The results from in vitro studies reveal that the titania nanofibrous architectures possess excellent biocompatibility and significantly enhances proliferation of both cell lines compared to untreated titanium specimens. Study of the cell morphology shows dynamic cell migration and attachment on the titania nanofibrous architecture. The bioactivity and biocompatibility of the engineered 3-D nanostructures suggest noticeable perspective for developing bio-functionalized scaffolds and implantable materials in regenerative medicine and clinical tissue engineering.