Engineering components of electrospun three-dimensional cell-encapsulated scaffold

• Main Author: Pang, Jun Hon
• Other Authors: Subramanian Venkatraman
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Biomaterials
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/49011
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project focuses on the eventual aim to engineer microvascular network which serves as a platform for generating heart patch. A novel approach to fabricate three-dimensional human cell-encapsulated fibrous scaffolds by coaxial electrospinning is therefore studied for the generation of the microvascular network. Firstly, core-shell structure of co-electrospun polyethylene oxide- polycaprolactone (PEO-PCL) fibres is successfully verified via fluorescence staining method. A suitable concentration of PEO was also selected. Fibroblasts and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were then encapsulated by co-electrospinning. Based on fluorescence images, it is found that both types of cells are successfully encapsulated within the fibres and remained intact. Another task carried out was to fabricate vascular conduits for vascularization of the cell-encapsulated scaffold via dip coating. PCL tubular conduits with porous surface were successfully produced and had undergone some preliminary cell adhesion studies after surface treatment. Cell adhesion on surface is found to be highest on conduits treated with sodium hydroxide and coated with gelatin. This study demonstrated promising preliminary results for the unprecedented novel approach to form microvascular networks. However, there are still limitations to be overcome to optimize the distribution and density of cells within the fibres, and to ensure they remain viable and proliferate over long period of time. Cell adhesion on the PCL conduits is to be further optimized too in order to vascularise the conduits for development of tissue engineered blood vessel in a bioreactor.