Spray deposition of live cells throughout the electrospinning process produces nanofibrous three-dimensional tissue scaffolds

Abstract

Compared with traditional in-vitro cell culture materials, three-dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds provide a superior environment for promoting cell functions. Since nanofibrous scaffolds have nanometer pore sizes, cells are unable to penetrate on their own, so must be incorporated into the scaffold during fabrication to ensure proper cell distribution. In this study, biodegradable and cytocompatible poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanofibers were produced using an electrospinning process. As a model cell line, fibroblasts were periodically sprayed from a pump-action spray bottle onto the developing scaffold. The viability of cells before and after spraying, and also after incorporation into the scaffold, was compared. Results indicated that cell spraying and the scaffold fabrication process did not significantly reduce cell viability. These findings, thus, contribute to the understanding of how to produce more physiological relevant cell-seeded nanofibrous scaffolds, an important element for the future of nanotechnology and tissue engineering.

Keywords: PLGA; nanomaterials; nanotechnology; tissue engineering.

Figure 1

Scanning electron microscope images of poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) nanofibers at 5000× magnification (A) and 30,000× magnification (B). The polymer fiber diameter was slightly variable with a mean diameter of approximately 100 nm.

Figure 2

Viability of cells before spraying and after spraying one or five times. No significant difference was found between the viability of cells in these three groups.

Figure 3

Viability of cells sprayed into polymer nanofiber scaffolds compared with a similar number of cells sprayed into well plates. No significant reduction in cell viability was observed for cells incorporated into scaffolds (P = 0.086).