Three-dimensional nanofiber scaffolds with arrayed holes for engineering skin tissue constructs

• Published in: MRS communications Vol. 7; no. 3; pp. 361 - 366
• Main Authors: Fu, Lina, Xie, Jingwei, Carlson, Mark A., Reilly, Debra A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.09.2017; Springer International Publishing
• Subjects: Biomaterials; Biomaterials for 3D Cell Biology Research Letter; Biomaterials for 3D Cell Biology Research Letters; Biomedical materials; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Construction engineering; Crosslinking; Fibroblasts; Fluorescence; Foaming; Glutaraldehyde; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Membranes; Morphology; Nanofibers; Nanotechnology; Plastic surgery; Polymer Sciences; SCAFFOLDS; Scanning electron microscopy; Skin; Skin & tissue grafts; Spheroids; Stem cells; Tissue engineering; Water stability; Wound healing; United States > US
• ISSN: 2159-6859; 2159-6867
• DOI: 10.1557/mrc.2017.49

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds composed of poly(ε-caprolactone) and gelatin nanofibers were fabricated by a combination of electrospinning and modified gas-foaming. Arrayed holes throughout the scaffold were created using a punch under cryo conditions. The crosslinking with glutaraldehyde vapor improved the water stability of the scaffolds. Cell spheroids of green fluorescent protein-labeled human dermal fibroblasts were prepared and seeded into the holes. It was found that the fibroblasts adhered well on the surface of nanofibers and migrated into the scaffolds due to the porous structures. The 3D nanofiber scaffolds may hold great potential for engineering tissue constructs for various applications.