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Optimizing Attachment of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Poly(ε-caprolactone) Electrospun Yarns
Published on: April 10, 2015
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Enhancing mesenchymal stem cell response using uniaxially stretched poly(ε-caprolactone) film micropatterns for
Zu-Yong Wang1, Swee Hin Teoh, Nuryanti Binti Johana
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117 576, Singapore. mpetes@nus.edu.sg.
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B
|April 9, 2020
Summary
Flexible poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) micropatterns guide mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to form a vascular tunica media. These engineered scaffolds promote cell alignment and differentiation, crucial for vascular tissue engineering.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Regenerative Medicine
- Vascular Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Vascular tissue engineering faces challenges in regenerating the tunica media with its complex anisotropic structure.
- Developing functional scaffolds that guide cell behavior is critical for successful vascular graft construction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop flexible poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) film micropatterns to regulate mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for tunica media construction.
- To investigate the impact of topographical cues on MSCs' morphology, phenotype, and alignment.
Main Methods:
- Uniaxial thermal stretching of PCL films to create topographical micropatterns (ridges/grooves).
- Mechanical property assessment of stretched PCL films.
- Culturing MSCs on micropatterned and un-patterned PCL films.
- Analysis of MSC morphology, cellular stress filament organization, and expression of contractile markers (SM-α-actin, calponin, SM-MHC).
- Fabrication of 3D tubular scaffolds by rolling micropatterned PCL films and incorporating MSCs.
Main Results:
- Uniaxial stretching enhanced PCL film mechanical properties (yield stress, Young's modulus, fracture stress) while maintaining elasticity.
- MSCs cultured on micropatterned PCL films aligned along ridges, exhibiting elongated morphology.
- MSCs adopted a contractile smooth muscle cell-like (SMCs) phenotype, with organized stress filaments and upregulated contractile marker expression.
- 3D tubular scaffolds fabricated from micropatterned PCL films with MSCs demonstrated ordered cell architecture mimicking the native tunica media.
Conclusions:
- Topographical micropatterns on PCL films effectively regulate MSC function, promoting alignment and differentiation towards a SMCs-like phenotype.
- Rolled micropatterned PCL films can form 3D tubular scaffolds with controlled anisotropic architecture for vascular tissue engineering.
- Geometric cues from micropatterned surfaces offer a promising strategy for guiding tunica media regeneration with microscale control over cell behavior.
