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A porous scaffold was prepared by gelatin groove fibers for cartilage tissue engineering. The morphology of groove fibers and porous scaffolds were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The water absorption property of scaffolds was tested which demonstrated values as high as 1187%. The compressive mechanical property of scaffolds was also evaluated. In wet state, this scaffold exhibited elastic behaviour, and could bear 100 cycles compressive fatigue test. Moreover, this scaffold could promote rat chondrocyte and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC) proliferation. The findings indicate that such scaffold could be valuable candidates for cartilage tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fabrication of 3D scaffold to mimic the nanofibrous structure of the nature extracellular matrix (ECM) with appropriate mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility, remain an important technical challenge in tissue engineering. The present study reports the strategy to fabricate a 3D nanofibrous scaffold with similar structure to collagen in ECM by combining electrospinning and freeze-drying technique. With the technique reported here, a nanofibrous structure scaffold with hydrophilic and superabsorbent properties can be readily prepared by Gelatin and Polylactic acid (PLA). In wet state the scaffold also shows a super-elastic property, which could bear a compressive strain as high as 80% and recovers its original shape afterwards. Moreover, after 6 days of culture, L-929 cells grow, proliferate and infiltrated into the scaffold. The results suggest that this 3D nanofibrous scaffold would be promising for varied field of tissue engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silk fibroin (SF)/PEO nanofibers prepared by green electrospinning is safe, non-toxic and environment friendly, it is a potential drug delivery carrier for tissue engineering. In this study, a core–shell nanofibers named as Dex@SF/PEO were obtained by green electrospinning with SF/PEO as the shell and dexamethasone (Dex) in the core. The nanofiber morphology and core–shell structure were studied by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The Dex release behavior from the nanofibers was tested by High Performance liquid (HPLC) method. The protective effect of drug loaded nanofibers mats on Porcine hip artery endothelial cells (PIECs) against LPS-induced inflammatory damage were determined by MTT assay. TEM result showed the distinct core–shell structure of nanofibers. In vitro drug release studies demonstrated that dexamethasone can sustain release over 192 h and core–shell nanofibers showed more slow release of Dex compared with the blending electrospinning nanofibers. Anti-inflammatory activity in vitro showed that released Dex can reduce the PIECs inflammatory damage and apoptosis which induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Dex@SF/PEO nanofibers are safe and non-toxic because of no harmful organic solvents used in the preparation, it is a promising environment friendly drug carrier for tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cartilage decellularized matrix (CDM) is processed into inks for 3D printing. • CDM-based scaffolds with controlled 3D shape and pore structure are obtained. • Fibers can improve the mechanical property of 3D-printed CDM scaffolds. • 3D-printed fiber-reinforced CDM scaffolds exhibit elasticity in wet condition. • Fiber-reinforced CDM scaffolds can repair articular cartilage defects in rabbits. Cartilage decellularized matrix (CDM) is considered a promising biomaterial for fabricating cartilage tissue engineering scaffolds. An ideal CDM-based scaffold should possess customizable 3D shape for complex tissue regeneration and proper pore size for cell infiltration, as well as provide mechanical support for cell growth. 3D printing is an efficiently technique for preparing customizable 3D scaffolds, however, fabricating CDM-based 3D-printed scaffolds with customizable shapes, proper pore structure and satisfactory mechanical properties remains a challenge. In the current study, to achieve customizable CDM-based 3D scaffolds, CDM was successfully processed into inks suitable for 3D printing. Further, the poor mechanics of CDM-based scaffolds were significantly improved by adding electrospinning fiber into the CDM-based inks for 3D printing. Importantly, the 3D-printed electrospinning fiber-reinforced CDM-based scaffold presented good biocompatibility and can enhance repair articular cartilage defects in rabbits. The current study provides a novel strategy for printing electrospinning fiber-reinforced CDM-based scaffolds for tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) electrospun fibrous scaffolds with customizable shapes and large pores is a challenging task. In this study, for the first time, one-dimensional (1D) gelatin/poly (lactic- co -glycolic acid) (PLGA) electrospun fibers were processed into inks suitable for 3D printing. By combining 3D printing and freeze drying, electrospun fiber-based inks were successfully fabricated into 3D-printed scaffolds (3DP) with precisely controlled shapes and large pores, in addition to fibrous surface morphologies similar to that of a native extracellular matrix (ECM). The 3DP exhibited good elasticity and water-induced shape memory, and was found to be superior to 3D-printed scaffolds fabricated using pure gelatin fibers and freeze-shaped scaffolds fabricated using non-fibrous gelatin/PLGA powder. Moreover, 3DP combined with chondrocytes achieved satisfactory cartilage regeneration in vivo. The novel strategy of 3D printing electrospun fibers established in this study provides a research model for the design and fabrication of multiple scaffolds for various tissue regeneration applications. Unlabelled Image • Electrospun fibers were processed into three-dimensional inks for the first time. • Fiber scaffolds with controlled shapes and large pores were successfully fabricated. • Three-dimensional printed fiber scaffolds exhibited elastic property in the wet condition. • Three-dimensional fiber scaffolds combined with chondrocytes achieved satisfactory cartilage regeneration in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An electrospun-aligned nanoyarn-reinforced nanofibrous scaffold (NRS) was developed for tendon tissue engineering to improve mechanical strength and cell infiltration. The novel scaffold composed of aligned nanoyarns and random nanofibers was fabricated via electrospinning using a two-collector system. The aim of the present study was to investigate three different types of electrospun scaffolds (random nanofibrous scaffold, aligned nanofibrous scaffold and NRS) based on silk fibroin (SF) and poly( l -lactide- co -caprolactone) blends. Morphological analysis demonstrated that the NRS composed of aligned nanoyarns and randomly distributed nanofibers formed a 3D microstructure with relatively large pore sizes and high porosity. Biocompatibility analysis revealed that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells exhibited a higher proliferation rate when cultured on the NRS compared with the other scaffolds. The mechanical testing results indicated that the tensile properties of the NRS were reinforced in the direction parallel to the nanoyarns and satisfied the mechanical requirements for tendon repair. In addition, cell infiltration was significantly enhanced on the NRS. In conclusion, with its improved porosity and appropriate mechanical properties, the developed NRS shows promise for tendon tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a biomimetic surface which is able to promote endothelialization is fundamental in the research for blood vessel substitutes to overcome the formation of thrombi or hyperplasia. In the present work, the fabrication of acrylamide-terminated glycine-arginine-glycine-aspartic peptides (Ac-GRGD) modified poly(ester-urethane) urea (PEUU) nanofibrous mats via electrospinning technique followed by covalent immobilizing method for improving its endothelialization was successfully achieved. Series of PEUU based polymers including PEUU, PEUU with t-butoxycarbonyl group (PEUU-Boc), and PEUU-amino group (PEUU-NH 2 ) were synthesized by a two-step solution polymerization and a de-protection process. The PEUU-RGD as-prepared nanofibrous mat was characterized using different techniques, such as, scanning electron microscopy, solide-state 13 C CP-MAS nuclear magnetic resonance, and stress-strain test. In addition, to motivate cell adhesion and proliferation, PEUU nanofibers mat was immobilized by coupling of Ac-GRGD. The results present that incorporation of Ac-GRGD peptide improved the mechanical properties and does not have negative effect on the morphology and the structure of PEUU nanofibers. From cell viability and cell morphology results, the prepared PEUU-RGD nanofiber mats are cytocompatible. Interestingly, the immobilized PEUU-RGD nanofibers possess lower hemolysis rate and an improved inhibition of platelet adhesion. Overall, Ac-GRGD peptides immobilized PEUU nanofibrous mats may have a potential application for vascular tissue engineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospinning has been widely used in fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds. Currently, most of the electrospun nanofibers performed like a conventional two-dimensional (2D) membrane, which hindered their further applications. Moreover, the low production rate of the traditional needle-electrospinning (NE) also limited the commercialization. In this article, disc-electrospinning (DE) was utilized to fabricate a three-dimensional (3D) scaffold consisting of porous macro/nanoscale fibers. The morphology of the porous structure was investigated by scanning electron microscopy images, which showed irregular pores of nanoscale spreading on the surface of DE polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers. Protein adsorption assessment illustrated the porous structure could significantly enhance proteins pickup, which was 55% higher than that of solid fiber scaffolds. Fibroblasts were cultured on the scaffold. The results demonstrated that DE fiber scaffold could enhance initial cell attachment. In the 7 days of culture, fibroblasts grew faster on DE fiber scaffold in comparison with solid fiber, solvent cast (SC) film and TCP. Fibroblasts on DE fibers showed a stretched shape and integrated with the porous surface tightly. Cells were also found to migrate into the DE scaffold up to 800 μm. Results supported the use of DE PCL fibers as a 3D tissue engineering scaffold in soft tissue regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cartilage decellularized matrix was processed into hydrogel (CDEM-pHA). • CDEM-pHA was injectable and photo-crosslinkable. • CDEM-pHA combined with chondrocytes formed mature cartilage in vivo. Cartilage decellularized extracellular matrix (CDEM) is a promising biomaterial for preparing tissue engineering scaffolds, and CDEM-based hydrogels constitute an ideal choice for repairing cartilage damage. In this study, CDEM powders and photo-responsive hyaluronic acid (pHA) were successfully fabricated into injectable and photo-crosslinkable hydrogel (CDEM-pHA). The rheological properties of CDEM-pHA indicated that CDEM-pHA exhibited shear-thinning behavior, and the storage modulus of the hydrogel increased with increasing UV irradiation. Chondrocytes were loaded into CDEM-pHA and implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of nude mice for eight weeks; the results indicated that CDEM-pHA combined with chondrocytes successfully regenerated mature cartilage in vivo. This study established a novel strategy for preparing CDEM-based hydrogel for cartilage regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]