RESUMEN
In this paper, we developed a novel morphing surface technique consisting of a 3D printed miniature groove structure and injected stimuli-responsive hydrogel pattern, which is capable of switching between lipophilicity and oleophobicity under certain stimuli. Under swelling, the geometrical change of the hydrogel will buckle the surface due to the structural confinement and create a continuous transition of surface topology. Thus, it will yield a change in the surface wetting property from oleophilic to super-oleophobic with a contact angle of oil of 85° to 165°. We quantitatively investigate this structure-property relationship using finite element analysis and analytical modeling, and the simulation results and the modeling are in good agreement with the experimental ones. This morphing surface also holds potential to be developed into an autonomous system for future sub-sea/off-shore engineering applications to separate oil and water.
RESUMEN
AIM: Atherosclerosis is a common cardiovascular disease causing medical problems globally leading to coronary artery bypass surgery. The present study is to fabricate core/shell nanofibers to encapsulate VEGF for the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into smooth muscle cells to develop vascular grafts. MATERIALS & METHODS: The fabricated core/shell nanofibers contained polycaprolactone/gelatin as the shell, and silk fibroin/VEGF as the core materials. RESULTS: The results observed that the core/shell nanofibers interact to differentiate MSCs into smooth muscle cells by the expression of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contractile proteins α-actinin, myosin and F-actin. CONCLUSION: The functionalized polycaprolactone/gelatin/silk fibroin/VEGF (250 ng) core/shell nanofibers were fabricated for the controlled release of VEGF in a persistent manner for the differentiation of MSCs into smooth muscle cells for vascular tissue engineering.
Asunto(s)
Vasos Sanguíneos , Diferenciación Celular , Nanofibras/química , Ingeniería de Tejidos , Vasos Sanguíneos/citología , Vasos Sanguíneos/metabolismo , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Fibroínas/química , Humanos , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/citología , Células Madre Mesenquimatosas/metabolismo , Miocitos del Músculo Liso/citología , Miocitos del Músculo Liso/metabolismo , Poliésteres/química , Andamios del Tejido/química , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/química , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
Cardiac tissue engineering promises to revolutionize the treatment of patients with end-stage heart failure and provide new solutions to the serious problems of shortage of heart donors. The influence of extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an influential role along with nanostructured components for guided stem cell differentiation. Hence, nanoparticle embedded Nanofibrous scaffolds of FDA approved polycaprolactone (PCL), Vitamin B12 (Vit B12), Aloe Vera(AV) and Silk fibroin(SF) was constructed to differentiate mesenchymal stem cells into cardiac lineage. Cardiomyocytes (CM) and Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were co-cultured on these fabricated nanofibrous scaffolds for the regeneration of infarcted myocardium. Results demonstrated that synthesized gold nanoparticles were of the size 16 nm and the nanoparticle loaded nanofibrous scaffold has a mechanical strength of 2.56 MPa matching that of the native myocardium. The gold nanoparticle blended PCL scaffolds were found to be enhancing the MSCs proliferation and differentiation into cardiogenesis. Most importantly the phenotype and cardiac marker expression in differentiated MSCs were highly resonated in gold nanoparticle loaded nanofibrous scaffolds. The appropriate mechanical strength provided by the functionalized nanofibrous scaffolds profoundly supported MSCs to produce contractile proteins and achieve typical cardiac phenotype.