One-stop microfiber spinning and fabrication of a fibrous cell-encapsulated scaffold on a single microfluidic platform

Biofabrication. 2014 Jun;6(2):024108. doi: 10.1088/1758-5082/6/2/024108.

Abstract

This paper provides a method for microscale fiber spinning and the in situ construction of a 3D fibrous scaffold on a single microfluidic platform. This platform was also used to fabricate a variety of fibrous scaffolds with diverse compositions without the use of complicated devices. We explored the potential utility of the fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering applications by constructing a fibrous scaffold encapsulating primary hepatocytes. The cells in scaffold were cultured over seven days and maintained higher viability comparing with 3D alginate non-fibrous block. The main advantage of this platform is that the fibrous structure used to form a scaffold can be generated without damaging the mechanically weak alginate fibers or encapsulated cells because all procedures are performed in a single platform without the intervention of the operator. In addition, the proposed fibrous scaffold permitted high diffusion capability of molecules, which enabled better viability of encapsulated cells than non-fibrous scaffold even in massive cell culture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / chemistry
  • Animals
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diffusion
  • Equipment Design
  • Glucuronic Acid / chemistry
  • Hepatocytes / cytology
  • Hexuronic Acids / chemistry
  • Male
  • Porosity
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Tissue Engineering / instrumentation*
  • Tissue Engineering / methods*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Glucuronic Acid