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The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of novel electrospun fiber mats loaded with alkannin and shikonin (A/S) derivatives, using as carrier a highly biocompatible, bio-derived, eco-friendly polymer such as poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid] (PHB). PHB fibers containing a mixture of A/S derivatives at different ratios were successfully fabricated via electrospinning. Αs evidenced by scanning electron microscopy, the fibers formed a bead-free mesh with average diameters from 1.25 to 1.47 μm. Spectroscopic measurements suggest that electrospinning marginally increases the amorphous content of the predominantly crystalline PHB in the fibers, while a significant drug amount lies near the fiber surface for samples of high total A/S content. All scaffolds displayed satisfactory characteristics, with the lower concentrations of A/S mixture-loaded PHB fiber mats achieving higher porosity, water uptake ratios, and entrapment efficiencies. The in vitro dissolution studies revealed that all samples released more than 70% of the encapsulated drug after 72 h. All PHB scaffolds tested by cell viability assay were proven non-toxic for Hs27 fibroblasts, with the 0.15 wt.% sample favoring cell attachment, spreading onto the scaffold surface, as well as cell proliferation. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of PHB meshes loaded with A/S mixture was documented for Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus.

Background Current research on skin tissue engineering has been focusing on novel therapies for the effective management of chronic wounds. A critical aspect is to develop matrices that promote growth and uniform distribution of cells across the wound area, and at the same time offer protection, as well as deliver drugs that help wound healing and tissue regeneration. In this context, we aimed at developing electrospun scaffolds that could serve as carriers for the bioactive natural products alkannin and shikonin (A/S). Methods A series of polymeric nanofibers composed of cellulose acetate (CA) or poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and varying ratios of a mixture of A/S derivatives, has been successfully fabricated and their physico-chemical and biological properties have been explored. Results Scanning electron microscopy revealed a uniform and bead-free morphology for CA scaffolds, while for PCL beads along the fibers were observed. The average diameters for all nanofibers ranged between 361 ± 47 and 487 ± 88 nm. During the assessment of physicochemical characteristics, CA fiber mats exhibited a more favored profile, while the assessment of the biological properties of the scaffolds showed that CA samples containing A/S mixture up to 1 wt.% achieved to facilitate attachment, survival and migration of Hs27 fibroblasts. With respect to the antimicrobial properties of the scaffolds, higher drug-loaded (1 and 5 wt.%) samples succeeded in inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus around the edges of the fiber mats. Finally, carrying out a structure-activity relationship study regarding the biological activities (fibroblast toxicity/proliferation and antibacterial activity) of pure A/S compounds – present in the A/S mixture – we concluded that A/S ester derivatives and the dimeric A/S augmented cell proliferation after 3 days, whereas shikonin proved to be toxic at 500 nM and 1 μM and alkannin only at 1 μM. Additionally, alkannin, shikonin and acetyl-shikonin showed more pronounced antibacterial properties than the other esters, the dimeric derivative and the A/S mixture itself. Conclusions Taken together, these findings indicate that embedding A/S derivatives into CA nanofibers might be an advantageous drug delivery system that could also serve as a potential candidate for biomedical applications in the field of skin tissue engineering.

Hybrid composites of synthetic and natural polymers represent materials of choice for bone tissue engineering. Ulvan, a biologically active marine sulfated polysaccharide, is attracting great interest in the development of novel biomedical scaffolds due to recent reports on its osteoinductive properties. Herein, a series of hybrid polycaprolactone scaffolds containing ulvan either alone or in blends with κ-carrageenan and chondroitin sulfate was prepared and characterized. The impact of the preparation methodology and the polysaccharide composition on their morphology, as well as on their mechanical, thermal, water uptake and porosity properties was determined, while their osteoinductive potential was investigated through the evaluation of cell adhesion, viability, and osteogenic differentiation of seeded human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells. The results verified the osteoinductive ability of ulvan, showing that its incorporation into the polycaprolactone matrix efficiently promoted cell attachment and viability, thus confirming its potential in the development of biomedical scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration applications.

Ulvan, a bioactive natural sulfated polysaccharide, and gelatin, a collagen-derived biopolymer, have attracted interest for the preparation of biomaterials for different biomedical applications, due to their demonstrated compatibility for cell attachment and proliferation. Both ulvan and gelatin have exhibited osteoinductive potential, either alone or in combination with other materials. In the current work, a series of novel hybrid scaffolds based on crosslinked ulvan and gelatin was designed, prepared and characterized. Their mechanical performance, thermal stability, porosity, water-uptake and in vitro degradation ability were assessed, while their morphology was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy. The prepared hybrid ulvan/gelatin scaffolds were characterized by a highly porous and interconnected structure. Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs) were seeded in selected ulvan/gelatin hybrid scaffolds and their adhesion, survival, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation efficiency was evaluated. Overall, it was found that the prepared hybrid sponge-like scaffolds could efficiently support mesenchymal stem cells&rsquo, adhesion and proliferation, suggesting that such scaffolds could have potential uses in bone tissue engineering.

Cell adhesion on 3D-scaffolds is a challenging task to succeed high cell densities and even cell distribution. We aimed to design a 3D-cell Culture Device (3D-CD) for static seeding and cultivation, to be used with any kind of scaffold, limiting cell loss and facilitating nutrient supply. 3D printing technology was used for both scaffold and device fabrication. Apart from testing the device, the purpose of this study was to assess and compare static and dynamic seeding and cultivation methods, of wet and dry scaffolds, under normoxic and hypoxic conditions and their effects on parameters such as cell seeding efficiency, cell distribution and cell proliferation. Human adipose tissue was harvested and cultured in 3D-printed poly(epsilon-caprolactone) scaffolds. Micro-CT scans were performed and projection images were reconstructed into cross section images. We created 3D images to visualize cell distribution and orientation inside the scaffolds. The group of prewetted scaffolds was the most favorable to cell attachment. The 3D-cell Culture Device (3D-CD) enhanced cell seeding efficiency with almost no cell loss. We suggest that the most favorable outcome can be produced with static seeding in the device for 24 h, followed either by static cultivation in the same device or by dynamic cultivation.

We used additive manufacturing to fabricate 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffolds of different geometry topologies and porosities. We present a comparative analysis of hyaline cartilage development from adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) on three different, newly designed scaffold geometry patterns. The first scaffold design (MESO) was based on a rectilinear layer pattern. For the second pattern (RO45), we employed a 45° rotational layer loop. The design for the third scaffold (3DHC) was a three-dimensional honeycomb-like pattern with a hexagonal cellular distribution and small square shapes. We examined cell proliferation, colonization, and differentiation, in relation to the scaffold's structure, as well as to the mechanical properties of the final constructs. We gave emphasis on the scaffolds, both microarchitecture and macroarchitecture, for optimal and enhanced chondrogenic differentiation, as an important parameter, not well studied in the literature. Among the three patterns tested, RO45 was the most favourable for chondrogenic differentiation, whereas 3DHC better supported cell proliferation and scaffold penetration, exhibiting also the highest rate of increase onto the mechanical properties of the final construct. We conclude that by choosing the optimal scaffold architecture, the resulting properties of our cartilaginous constructs can better approximate those of the physiological cartilage.

Efforts on bioengineering are directed towards the construction of biocompatible scaffolds and the determination of the most favorable microenvironment, which will better support cell proliferation and differentiation. Perfusion bioreactors are attracting growing attention as an effective, modern tool in tissue engineering. A natural biomaterial extensively used in regenerative medicine with outstanding biocompatibility, biodegradability and non-toxic characteristics, is collagen, a structural protein with undisputed beneficial characteristics. This is a study designed according to the above considerations. 3D printed polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with rectangular pores were coated with collagen either as a coating on the scaffold's trabeculae, or as a gel-cell solution penetrating scaffolds' pores. We employed histological, molecular and imaging techniques to analyze colonization, proliferation and chondrogenic differentiation of Adipose Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (ADMSCs). Two different differentiation culture media were employed to test chondrogenic differentiation on gelated and non gelated PCL scaffolds in static and in perfusion bioreactors dynamic culture conditions. In dynamic culture, non gelated scaffolds combined with our in house TGF-β2 based medium, augmented chondrogenic differentiation performance, which overall was significantly less favorable compared to StemPro™ propriety medium. The beneficial mechanical stimulus of dynamic culture, appears to outgrow the disadvantage of the "weaker" TGF-β2 medium used for chondrogenic differentiation. Even though cells in static culture grew well on the scaffold, there was limited penetration inside the construct, so the purpose of the 3D culture was not fully served. In contrast dynamic culture achieved better penetration and uniform distribution of the cells within the scaffold.