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Fibril curvature is bioinstructive to attached cells. Similar to natural healthy tissues, an engineered extracellular matrix can be designed to stimulate cells to adopt desired phenotypes. To take full advantage of the curvature control in biomaterial fabrication methodologies, an understanding of the response to fibril subcellular curvature is required. In this work, we examined morphology, signaling, and function of human cells attached to electrospun nanofibers. We controlled curvature across an order of magnitude using nondegradable poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) attached to a stiff substrate with flat PMMA as a control. Focal adhesion length and the distance of maximum intensity from the geographic center of the vinculin positive focal adhesion both peaked at a fiber curvature of 2.5 μm -1 (both ∼2× the flat surface control). Vinculin experienced slightly less tension when attached to nanofiber substrates. Vinculin expression was also more affected by a subcellular curvature than structural proteins α-tubulin or α-actinin. Among the phosphorylation sites we examined (FAK397, 576/577, 925, and Src416), FAK925 exhibited the most dependance on the nanofiber curvature. A RhoA/ROCK dependance of migration velocity across curvatures combined with an observation of cell membrane wrapping around nanofibers suggested a hybrid of migration modes for cells attached to fibers as has been observed in 3D matrices. Careful selection of nanofiber curvature for regenerative engineering scaffolds and substrates used to study cell biology is required to maximize the potential of these techniques for scientific exploration and ultimately improvement of human health.

Mechanotransduction arises from information encoded in the shape of materials such as curvature. It induces activation of small GTPase signaling affecting cell phenotypes including differentiation. We carried out a set of preliminary experiments to test the hypothesis that curvature (1/radius) would also affect cell motility due to signal pathway crosstalk. High molecular weight poly (methyl methacrylate) straight nanofibers were electrospun with curvature ranging from 41 to 1 μm-1 and collected on a passivated glass substrate. The fiber curvature increased mouse mesenchymal stem cell aspect ratio (P < 0.02) and decreased cell area (P < 0.01). Despite little effect on some motility patterns such as polarity and persistence, we found selected fiber curvatures can increase normalized random fibroblastic mouse embryonic cell (MEF) migration velocity close to 2.5 times compared with a flat surface (P < 0.001). A maximum in the velocity curve occurred near 2.5 μm-1 and may vary with the time since initiation of attachment to the surface (range of 0-20 h). In the middle range of fiber curvatures, the relative relationship to curvature was similar regardless of treatment with Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y27632) or cdc42 inhibitor (ML141), although it was decreased on most curvatures (P < 0.05). However, below a critical curvature threshold MEFs may not be able to distinguish shallow curvature from a flat surface, while still being affected by contact guidance. The preliminary data in this manuscript suggested the large low curvature fibers were interpreted in a manner similar to a non-curved surface. Thus, curvature is a biomaterial construct design parameter that should be considered when specific biological responses are desired. Statement of integration, innovation, and insight  Replacement of damaged or diseased tissues that cannot otherwise regenerate is transforming modern medicine. However, the extent to which we can rationally design materials to affect cellular outcomes remains low. Knowing the effect of material stiffness and diameter on stem cell differentiation, we investigated cell migration and signaling on fibrous scaffolds. By investigating diameters across orders of magnitude (50-2000 nm), we identified a velocity maximum of ~800 nm. Furthermore, the results suggest large fibers may not be interpreted by single cells as a curved surface. This work presents insight into the design of constructs for engineering tissues., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

This paper describes the development of a novel low-cost and efficient method, 3D near-field electrospinning, to fabricate high-resolution, and repeatable 3D polymeric fiber patterns on nonconductive materials with potential use in tissue engineering. This technology is based on readily available hobbyist grade 3D printers. The result is exquisite control of the deposition of single fibers in an automated manner. Additionally, the fabrication of various fiber patterns, which are subsequently translated to unique cellular patterns, is demonstrated. Finally, poly(methyl methacrylate) fibers are printed within 3D collagen gels loaded with cells to introduce anisotropic properties of polymeric fibers within the cell-loaded gels., (© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Electrospinning of water-soluble polymers and retaining their mechanical strength and bioactivity remain challenging. Volatile organic solvent soluble polymers and their derivatives are preferred for fabricating electrospun nanofibers. We report the synthesis and characterization of 2-nitrobenzyl-gelatin (N-Gelatin)--a novel gelatin Schiff base derivative--and the resulting electrospun nanofiber matrices. The 2-nitrobenzyl group is a photoactivatable-caged compound and can be cleaved from the gelatin nanofiber matrices following UV exposure. Such hydrophobic modification allowed the fabrication of gelatin and blend nanofibers with poly(caprolactone) (PCL) having significantly improved tensile properties. Neat gelatin and their PCL blend nanofiber matrices showed a modulus of 9.08 ± 1.5 MPa and 27.61 ± 4.3 MPa, respectively while the modified gelatin and their blends showed 15.63 ± 2.8 MPa and 24.47 ± 8.7 MPa, respectively. The characteristic infrared spectroscopy band for gelatin Schiff base derivative at 1560 cm(-1) disappeared following exposure to UV light indicating the regeneration of free NH2 group and gelatin. These nanofiber matrices supported cell attachment and proliferation with a well spread morphology as evidenced through cell proliferation assay and microscopic techniques. Modified gelatin fiber matrices showed a 73% enhanced cell attachment and proliferation rate compared to pure gelatin. This polymer modification methodology may offer a promising way to fabricate electrospun nanofiber matrices using a variety of proteins and peptides without loss of bioactivity and mechanical strength.

The major challenge for bone tissue engineering lies in the fabrication of scaffolds that can mimic the extracellular matrix and promote osteogenesis. Electrospun fibers are being widely researched for this application due to high porosity, interconnectivity, and mechanical strength of the fibrous scaffolds. Electrospun poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA, 2.416 ± 0.100 μm) fibers were fabricated and etched using a 60% propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA)/limonene (vol/vol) solution to obtain fiber diameters ranging from 2.5 to 0.5 μm in a time-dependent manner. The morphology of the fibrous scaffolds was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy and cellular compatibility with etchant-treated scaffold was assessed using immunoflurescence. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) activation in response to different fiber diameter was evaluated with western blot as well as quantitative in-cell western. We report that electrospun micro-fibers can be etched to 0.552 ± 0.047 μm diameter without producing beads. Osteoblasts adhered to the fibers and a change in fiber diameter played a major role in modulating the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 kinases with 0.882 ± 0.091 μm diameter fibers producing an inverse effect on ERK and p38 phosphorylation. These results indicate that nanofibers produced by wet etching can be effectively utilized to produce diameters that can differentially modulate MAPK activation patterns., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Tissue engineering often benefits from the use of composites to produce an ideal scaffold. We present the focused development of a novel structure that combines the biomimetic properties of nanofibers with the robust mechanical aspects of the sintered microsphere scaffold to produce a composite scaffold that demonstrates an ability to mimic the mechanical environment of trabecular bone while also promoting the phenotype progression of osteoblast progenitor cells. These composite nanofiber/microsphere scaffolds exhibited a mechanical modulus and compressive strength similar to trabecular bone and exhibited degradation resulting in a mass loss of 30% after 24 weeks. The nanofiber portion of these scaffolds was sufficiently porous to allow cell migration throughout the fibrous portion of the scaffold and promoted phenotype progression through focal adhesion kinase-mediated activation of the transcription factor Runx2, control scaffolds not containing nanofibers did not demonstrate extensive cell migration or phenotype progression. Ultimately, the focal adhesion kinase activity on the composite nanofiber/microsphere scaffolds demonstrated causality over the production of the mature osteoblast marker, osteocalcin, and the development of a calcified matrix., (Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)