Abstract
Nanoscale and multiscale PCL/gelatin scaffolds were prepared via disc-electrospinning. In vitro experiments were conducted. Cells are inhibited on the surface of the nanoscale scaffold. While cells could infiltrated into the multiscale scaffold.
Schematic of cell-scaffold interaction of nanoscale scaffold (a) and multiscale scaffold (b). SEM images of L929 cells culture on nanoscale scaffold (c) and multiscale scaffold (d).
[Display omitted]
PCL-Gelatin scaffold of nanoscale and multiscale was prepared via disc-electrospinning.Compared the cell behavior of the nanoscale and multiscale scaffolds.The multiscale scaffold with large pores could enhance cell adhesion and cell infiltration.
Electrospinning is a versatile and convenient technology to generate nanofibers suitable for tissue engineering. However, the low production rate of traditional needle electrospinning hinders its applications. Needleless electrospinning is a potential strategy to promote the application of electrospun nanofiber in various fields. In this study, disc-electrospinning (one kind of needleless electrospinning) was conducted to produce poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin (PCL/GT) scaffolds of different structure, namely the nanoscale structure constructed by nanofiber and multiscale structure consisting of nanofiber and microfiber. It was found that, due to the inhomogeneity of PCL/GT solution, disc-electrospun PCL-GT scaffold presented multiscale structure with larger pores than that of the acid assisted one (PCL-GT-A). Scanning electron microscopy images indicated the PCL-GT scaffold was constructed by nanofibers and microfibers. Mouse fibroblasts and rat bone marrow stromal cells both showed higher proliferation rates on multiscale scaffold than nanoscale scaffolds. It was proposed that the nanofibers bridged between the microfibers enhanced cell adhesion and spreading, while the large pores on the three dimensional (3D) PCL-GT scaffold provide more effective space for cells to proliferate and migrate. However, the uniform nanofibers and densely packed structure in PCL-GT-A scaffold limited the cells on the surface. This study demonstrated the potential of disc-electrospun PCL-GT scaffold containing nanofiber and microfiber for 3D tissue regeneration.