Light-Triggered Structural Modulation of Nanofibrous Meshes to Promote Deep Penetration of Cultured Cells

Abstract

Although nanofibrous meshes are considered promising cultivation beds for maintaining cell differentiation, 3D cultivation is not possible because their nanoporous structures impede cell infiltration. To facilitate transverse cell migration across nanofibrous meshes, electrospun nanofibers are prepared with structures that vary in response to red laser light. Polyoxalate (POX), composed of oxalate linkers and oligomeric caprolactone, is synthesized and electrospun into fibrous meshes with a photosensitizer (chlorin e6, Ce6). These meshes exhibit morphological and chemical changes upon laser irradiation, and mass erosion rates of the meshes are faster after laser irradiation. Cell cultivation on POX meshes reveals that red laser effectively facilitates traverse migration of the cells without affecting cell viability. The use of light-triggered change of meshes is envisioned to promote the migration of cells during 3D matrix cultivation.

Keywords: cell cultivation; electrospinning; nanofiber; near infrared; photosensitizer.