Abstract:

BACKGROUND: In vascular tissue engineering, scaffolds that can induce smooth muscle cells align and orientate in circumferential direction, but not simple porous scaffold, would be welcome.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of circumferential microchannels on the in vitro induction of smooth muscle cells.
METHODS: Electrospinning, melt spinning, and solvent adhesion techniques were combined and the as-prepared scaffolds were further modified by grafting collagen for improving their biocompatibility. Scanning electron microscope and fluorescence microscope were selected to characterize the alignment of smooth muscle cells on these biomimetic scaffolds.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Mixture of chloroform/alcohol with volume ratio at 5:95 was used to bond the elextro spun poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) fibers and melt spun poly(ε-caprolactone-co-lactic acid) fibers successfully toward creating a biomimetic vascular scaffold. The scaffold surface was first introducing active carboxylate group by alkali hydrolyzing and then coupling with collagen by using carbodiimide. When the weaving angle in the melt spinning was suitable (30°), the pores of the scaffold could ensure the growth of smooth muscle cells on and in the scaffold homogenously. All the smooth muscle cells aligned along the microfibers and microchannels of the scaffolds, demonstrating that such novel type of scaffold had strong ability in inducing smooth muscle cells regenerating their microarchitecture in vivo. It is helpful in developing biomimetic tubular scaffold to induce blood vessel regeneration in vivo.