Modulating Cell-Scaffold Interaction via dECM-Decorated Melt Electrowriting PCL Scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Aligned fibrous scaffolds are crucial for directing soft-tissue regeneration.
• Synthetic polymers often lack essential native biochemical cues for effective cell integration.
• Bridging this gap requires scaffolds that offer both structural guidance and biochemical signaling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop bioactive and anisotropic scaffolds by combining melt electrowriting (MEW) with decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) decoration.
• To enhance cell-scaffold interactions for improved soft tissue engineering applications.
• To investigate the impact of tunable pore architectures on cell behavior within the composite scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of porous polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with aligned microfibers using MEW.
• Tuning scaffold pore architectures with aspect ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3.
• Coating PCL scaffolds with porcine skeletal muscle dECM via a dip-gelation method.

Main Results:

• Surface characterization confirmed robust dECM coating and enhanced hydrophilicity on PCL scaffolds.
• Mechanical testing showed the composite scaffolds maintained structural integrity for tissue regeneration demands.
• In vitro studies with L929 fibroblasts demonstrated significantly improved cell adhesion, proliferation, and alignment on dECM-decorated scaffolds.
• Scaffolds with 1:1 and 1:2 aspect ratios exhibited the highest cell density and most effective morphological guidance.

Conclusions:

• The combination of topographical cues from aligned fibers and biochemical signals from dECM creates synergistic effects for tissue regeneration.
• dECM decoration significantly enhances cell responses on MEW-fabricated scaffolds.
• Optimized pore architectures (1:1, 1:2 aspect ratios) further improve cell density and alignment, highlighting their potential for functional tissue engineering.