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Updated: Oct 15, 2025
Tri-layered Electrospinning to Mimic Native Arterial Architecture using Polycaprolactone, Elastin, and Collagen: A Preliminary Study
Published on: January 4, 2011
Electrospinning Fabrication Methods to Incorporate Laminin in Polycaprolactone for Kidney Tissue Engineering
Büsra Baskapan1, Anthony Callanan2
1Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Faraday Building, King's Buildings, Colin Maclaurin Road, Edinburg, EH9 3DW, UK.
Background:
Today's treatment options for renal diseases fall behind the need, as the number of patients has increased considerably over the last few decades. Tissue engineering (TE) is one avenue which may provide a new approach for renal disease treatment. This involves creating a niche where seeded cells can function in an intended way. One approach to TE is combining natural extracellular matrix proteins with synthetic polymers, which has been shown to have many positives, yet a little is understood in kidney. Herein, we investigate the incorporation of laminin into polycaprolactone electrospun scaffolds.
Method:
The scaffolds were enriched with laminin via either direct blending with polymer solution or in a form of emulsion with a surfactant. Renal epithelial cells (RC-124) were cultured on scaffolds up to 21 days.
Results:
Mechanical characterization demonstrated that the addition of the protein changed Young's modulus of polymeric fibres. Cell viability and DNA quantification tests revealed the capability of the scaffolds to maintain cell survival up to 3 weeks in culture. Gene expression analysis indicated healthy cells via three key markers.
Conclusion:
Our results show the importance of hybrid scaffolds for kidney tissue engineering.
