Engineering cryoelectrospun elastin-alginate scaffolds to serve as stromal extracellular matrices

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Regenerative Medicine
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Scaffold-based regenerative strategies aim to replicate native extracellular matrix (ECM) properties for optimal cell growth.
• Existing scaffolds often fail to simultaneously mimic the complex composition, topography, pore size, porosity, and viscoelasticity of soft-tissue ECM.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate 3D porous scaffolds using cryoelectrospinning that closely mimic the structural and viscoelastic properties of soft-tissue connective tissue ECM.
• To utilize elastin and alginate with water as a solvent for a green chemistry approach to create biocompatible scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Cryoelectrospinning was employed to fabricate 3D porous scaffolds with a minimal fibrous backbone.
• Elastin and alginate were used as biomaterials, with water as the solvent, to mimic the viscoelasticity of decellularized adult salivary gland (DSG) matrix.
• Process parameters were optimized to achieve desired topography and compliance, yielding over 100 scaffolds per run.

Main Results:

• The fabricated scaffolds exhibited properties similar to DSG ECM, including pore sizes of 10-30µm and appropriate mechanical characteristics.
• Using water as a solvent was critical for generating biocompatible scaffolds with desirable topography and enabling a green fabrication process.
• Cryoelectrospun scaffolds (CESs) demonstrated successful NIH 3T3 fibroblast penetration (250-450µm), survival, and maintenance of a stromal cell phenotype.

Conclusions:

• Elastin-alginate CESs effectively mimic key structural and functional properties of soft-tissue ECM.
• These scaffolds show significant potential for future applications in regenerative medicine.
• The cryoelectrospinning method using water offers a viable and environmentally friendly approach for creating advanced biomimetic scaffolds.