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Tissue Engineering: Construction of a Multicellular 3D Scaffold for the Delivery of Layered Cell Sheets
Published on: October 3, 2014
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Precisely Assembled Nanofiber Arrays as a Platform to Engineer Aligned Cell Sheets for Biofabrication
Vince Beachley1,2, R Glenn Hepfer1, Eleni Katsanevakis1
1Clemson-MUSC Bioengineering Program, Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 29, 2017
Summary
A novel hybrid cell sheet engineering method uses ultra-thin nanofiber arrays to create stable, mechanically robust composite cell sheets. This approach advances tissue engineering by enabling complex 3D structure formation.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Tissue Engineering
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Traditional cell sheet engineering faces limitations in stability and mechanical properties.
- Polymer scaffolds can hinder cell functions and elicit foreign body responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a hybrid cell sheet engineering approach using ultra-thin nanofiber arrays.
- To create stable, mechanically enhanced composite cell sheets with minimal material content.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of composite nanofiber/cell sheets using uniaxially-aligned and crisscrossed nanofiber arrays.
- Assessment of cell growth, myotube formation, and mechanical properties.
- Evaluation of handling properties for 3D structure fabrication.
Main Results:
- Confluent aligned cell sheets formed on nanofiber arrays even at low fiber densities.
- Aligned linear myotube formation occurred on both sides of the sheets, despite single-side seeding.
- Minimized nanofiber content reduced hindrance to cell functions and inflammatory responses.
- Enhanced stability, mechanical properties, and handling characteristics were observed.
Conclusions:
- The hybrid approach combines advantages of material-free and scaffold-based methods.
- Ultra-thin nanofiber arrays provide structural support while minimizing material interference.
- This method represents a new direction for aligned cell sheet engineering in diverse tissue applications.
