Electrospinning Fibrous Polymer Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering and Cell Culture

Summary

The process of electrospinning polymers for tissue engineering and cell culture is addressed in this article. Specifically, the electrospinning of photoreactive macromers with additional processing capabilities of photopatterning and multi-polymer electrospinning is described.

Abstract

As the field of tissue engineering evolves, there is a tremendous demand to produce more suitable materials and processing techniques in order to address the requirements (e.g., mechanics and vascularity) of more intricate organs and tissues. Electrospinning is a popular technique to create fibrous scaffolds that mimic the architecture and size scale of the native extracellular matrix. These fibrous scaffolds are also useful as cell culture substrates since the fibers can be used to direct cellular behavior, including stem cell differentiation (see extensive reviews by Mauck et al. and Sill et al. for more information). In this article, we describe the general process of electrospinning polymers and as an example, electrospin a reactive hyaluronic acid capable of crosslinking with light exposure (see Ifkovits et al. for a review on photocrosslinkable materials). We also introduce further processing capabilities such as photopatterning and multi-polymer scaffold formation. Photopatterning can be used to create scaffolds with channels and multi-scale porosity to increase cellular infiltration and tissue distribution. Multi-polymer scaffolds are useful to better tune the properties (mechanics and degradation) of a scaffold, including tailored porosity for cellular infiltration. Furthermore, these techniques can be extended to include a wide array of polymers and reactive macromers to create complex scaffolds that provide the cues necessary for the development of successful tissue engineered constructs.

Protocol

A. Single Polymer Electrospinning

1. Prior to preparing the electrospinning solution, make a 0.5 wt% solution of the photoinitiator, Irgacure 2959 (I2959), in deionized water by dissolving at 37°C for several days. This step is not necessary if a photoreactive polymer is not being used.
2. Combine methacrylated hyaluronic acid (MeHA, see Burdick et al. for synthesis), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO, 900 kDa), and I2959 in deionized water to prepare a solution with a final concentration of 2 wt% MeHA, 3 wt% PEO, and 0.05 wt% I2959. Use a vortex to mix the solution until it is clear. The polymer type and concentration, as well as the solve....

Discussion

Electrospinning was used to prepare fibrous scaffolds from polymers. Photocrosslinkable scaffolds based on hyaluronic acid were used as an illustrative example, where light exposure is needed for crosslinking. With the use of reactive macromers, such as MeHA, channels that have previously demonstrated enhanced cellular distribution were incorporated into the scaffolds with the use of a mask during photocrosslinking to form macro and micro-porous scaffolds. Moreover, two distinct polymers were simultaneously electrospu.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
DAPI	Reagent	Invitrogen	D1306
I2959	Reagent	Ciba Specialty Chemicals
PEO 200 kDa		Polysciences, Inc.	17503
PEO 900 kDa	Reagent	Sigma-Aldrich	189456
Methacryloxethyl thiocarbamoyl rhodamine B	Reagent	Polysciences, Inc.	23591-100	Prepare stock solution in DMSO
Live/Dead Stain Kit	Reagent	Invitrogen	L3224	Contains Calcein (stains live cells green) and ethidium homodime (stains red dead cells)
Syringe Pump	Equipment	KD Scientific	KDS100	Two are needed for dual polymer spinning
Power Source	Equipment	Gamma High Voltage	ES30P-5W	Two are needed for dual polymer spinning
Motor	Equipment	Triem Electric Motors, Inc	0132022-15	Must attach to a custom built mandrel
Tachometer	Equipment	Network Tool Warehouse	ESI-330	Use to monitor mandrel speed
Omnicure UV Spot Cure System with collimating adapter	Equipment	EXFO	S1000
Silicone Tubing	Equipment	McMaster-Carr	51135K151
Luer Lock Female Adapter	Equipment	McMaster-Carr	51525K293
Luer Lock Male Adapter	Equipment	McMaster-Carr	51525K143
Needles	Equipment	Fisher Scientific	14-825-16H
Coverslips	Equipment	Corning	2875-22