Development of nanofibrous cellulose acetate/gelatin skin substitutes for variety wound treatment applications.

The major component of fibrous extracellular matrix of dermis is composed of a complex combination of proteins and polysaccharides. Electrospun cellulose acetate/gelatin might be an effective simulator of the structure and composition of native skin and during this study, we electrospun cellulose acetate/gelatin membranes in various compositions and their performance as a scaffold for either skin tissue engineering or as a wound dressing was evaluated. Skin treatment products, whether tissue-engineered scaffolds or wound dressings, should be sufficiently hydrophilic to allow for gas and fluid exchange and absorb excess exudates while controlling the fluid loss. However, a wound dressing should be easily removable without causing tissue damage and a tissue-engineered scaffold should be able to adhere to the wound, and support cell proliferation during skin regeneration. We showed that these distinct adherency features are feasible just by changing the composition of cellulose acetate and gelatin in composite cellulose acetate/gelatin scaffolds. High proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts on electrospun cellulose acetate/gelatin 25:75 confirmed the capability of cellulose acetate/gelatin 25:75 nanofibers as a tissue-engineered scaffold, while the electrospun cellulose acetate/gelatin 75:25 can be a potential low-adherent wound dressing.

Differentiation of embryonic stem cells to cardiomyocytes on electrospun nanofibrous substrates.

The potential of pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) isolated from the inner mass of blastocysts are investigated for its ability to differentiate on biocompatible electrospun nanofibers, for regeneration of the myocardially infracted heart. Nanostructured poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide)/collagen (PLGA/Col) scaffolds with fiber diameters in the range of 300 ± 65 nm, was fabricated by electrospinning to mimic the extracellular matrix of the native tissue. During the culture of embryoid bodies outgrowth on the scaffolds, and further differentiation of ESCs to cardiomyocytes, the PLGA/Col nanofibers was found better than that of the electrospun PLGA nanofibers, where a better interaction and growth of ESC differentiated cardiomyocytes was observed on the composite scaffolds. The phenotypical characteristics of ESC-derived cardiomyocytes and molecular protein expression were carried out by scanning electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Our studies highlight the significance of a suitable material, its architecture, and cell-biomaterial interactions that is essential at a nanoscale level signifying the application of a bioengineered cardiac graft for stem cell differentiation and transplantation, which could be an intriguing strategy for cardiac regeneration.