Cytocompatibility of electrospun nanofiber tubular scaffolds for small diameter tissue engineering blood vessels

Int J Biol Macromol. 2011 Oct 1;49(3):281-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2011.05.004. Epub 2011 May 11.

Abstract

A tubular scaffold was fabricated by using electrospun polymer solution blends of pNSR32 (recombinant spider silk protein), PCL (polycaprolactone) and Gt (gelatin). The physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility of these scaffolds were investigated. Afterwards, the pNSR32/PCL/Gt tubular scaffold (inner diameter=3mm) showed high porosity of 86.2 ± 2.9%, pore size of 2423 ± 979nm and average fibre diameter of 166 ± 85nm. Water uptake and contact angle of the scaffolds reached 112.0 ± 4.4% and 45.7 ± 13.7°, respectively. SDRAECs (Sprague Dawley Rat Aortic Endothelial Cells) grew and proliferated well and phenotype could be maintained on the composite scaffolds after they had been cultured on the composite scaffolds for 7 days. Compared with pure PCL scaffolds a greater density of viable cells was seen on the composites, especially the pNSR32/PCL/Gt scaffolds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta / cytology
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
  • Biocompatible Materials / toxicity
  • Blood Vessels / cytology*
  • Blood Vessels / drug effects
  • Cell Cycle / drug effects
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / drug effects
  • Fibroins / chemistry
  • Gelatin / chemistry
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanofibers / toxicity
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Phenotype
  • Polyesters / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Biocompatible Materials
  • Polyesters
  • Water
  • polycaprolactone
  • Gelatin
  • Fibroins