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Insulin immobilized PCL‐cellulose acetate micro‐nanostructured fibrous scaffolds for tendon tissue engineering
Author(s) -
Ramos Daisy M.,
Abdulmalik Sama,
Arul Michael R.,
Rudraiah Swetha,
Laurencin Cato T.,
Mazzocca Augustus D.,
Kumbar Sangamesh G.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
polymers for advanced technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.61
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1581
pISSN - 1042-7147
DOI - 10.1002/pat.4553
Subject(s) - insulin , mesenchymal stem cell , nanofiber , growth factor , scaffold , tissue engineering , materials science , tendon , biomedical engineering , regeneration (biology) , insulin like growth factor , cellulose , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , endocrinology , nanotechnology , anatomy , medicine , receptor
Use of growth factors as biochemical molecules to elicit cellular differentiation is a common strategy in tissue engineering. However, limitations associated with growth factors, such as short half‐life, high effective physiological doses, and high costs, have prompted the search for growth factor alternatives, such as growth factor mimics and other proteins. This work explores the use of insulin protein as a biochemical factor to aid in tendon healing and differentiation of cells on a biomimetic electrospun micro‐nanostructured scaffold. Dose response studies were conducted using human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in basal media supplemented with varied insulin concentrations. A dose of 100‐ng/mL insulin showed increased expression of tendon markers. Synthetic‐natural blends of various ratios of polycaprolactone (PCL) and cellulose acetate (CA) were used to fabricate micro‐nanofibers to balance physicochemical properties of the scaffolds in terms of mechanical strength, hydrophilicity, and insulin delivery. A 75:25 ratio of PCL:CA was found to be optimal in promoting cellular attachment and insulin immobilization. Insulin immobilized fiber matrices also showed increased expression of tendon phenotypic markers by MSCs similar to findings with insulin supplemented media, indicating preservation of insulin bioactivity. Insulin functionalized scaffolds may have potential applications in tendon healing and regeneration.