Synchrotron FTIR Microspectroscopy Imaging for Evaluating Cell Distribution on Electrospun Fibrous Scaffolds

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Evaluating cell adhesion and distribution on fibrous scaffolds is crucial but challenging in tissue engineering.
• Current methods often lack speed, non-destructiveness, or label-free capabilities for detailed biochemical analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To employ synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microspectroscopy imaging for evaluating NIH3T3 fibroblast cell adhesion and distribution.
• To assess the impact of microcellulose content on cell distribution on electrospun polylactic acid (PLA)/microcellulose fibrous scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Utilized SR-FTIR microspectroscopy imaging for rapid, non-destructive, and label-free chemical mapping of fibrous scaffolds.
• Analyzed NIH3T3 fibroblast adhesion and spatial distribution on electrospun PLA/microcellulose scaffolds with varying microcellulose content (0-10 wt %).
• Applied hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) to quantify cell distribution patterns and derived a qualitative distribution index.

Main Results:

• SR-FTIR imaging successfully visualized NIH3T3 fibroblast localization on electrospun fibers after 24 hours of culture.
• Hierarchical cluster analysis demonstrated significant variations in cell distribution correlating with microcellulose content.
• The most homogeneous cell distribution was observed at 5 wt % microcellulose, indicated by a distribution index of 10.74.

Conclusions:

• SR-FTIR microspectroscopy imaging is an effective tool for assessing cell-material interactions on electrospun fibrous scaffolds.
• This technique provides a practical methodology for evaluating biomaterials in tissue engineering applications.
• Microcellulose content significantly influences fibroblast distribution on PLA scaffolds, with 5 wt % yielding optimal homogeneity.