Parametric optimization of a porous coaxial microfiber-based hollow substrate for in vitro cell culture

• Main Author: Zeng, Peiqin
• Other Authors: Zhang Yilei
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/75931
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In recent years, there has been a marked increase of tissue engineering research. It is well known that suitable pore size and the diameter of fibers play a decisive role in the proliferation of cells, the transportation of oxygen and nutrients, the excretion of metabolites. In this dissertation, electrospinning technique was used to produce coaxial fibers with pores, Design of Experiment (DOE) method was applied to select the best experimental parameters, determine the relationship between different experimental conditions and results, built a model to show how the different parameters influence the fibers’ diameter and the pore size. Then the feasibility of culturing cells in coaxial fibers has been verified. It implies that a more effective method of tissue regeneration in vitro has been provided. The coaxial microfibers with the mixture of Polylactic-co-glycolic acid(PLGA) and Polyethylene oxide(PEO) sheath and Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) mixed of PC 12 cells as core were prepared based on the electrospinning method. PVA and PEO have been removed during cell cultivation, which led to forming hollow perforated fibers. After 3days of cultivation, it was found that hollow fibers could provide guidance and support for the proliferation of PC12 cells. The small holes distributed on the fibers were beneficial to the transport of nutrients and metabolites. PC12 cells were observed to reproduce well. By optimizing the electrospinning conditions, uniform microfibers with an average diameter of 75μm(outer) and 45um(inner) were obtained using a PLGA concentration of 15%, PVA concentration of 6% and a tip-to-collector distance of 5 cm with a voltage of 10 kV. The two flow rates of PLGA and PVA were 50ml/h and 10ml/h respectively.