4.4 Article

Cryo-Electrospinning Generates Highly Porous Fiber Scaffolds Which Improves Trabecular Meshwork Cell Infiltration

Journal

JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL BIOMATERIALS
Volume 14, Issue 10, Pages -

Publisher

MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/jfb14100490

Keywords

electrospinning; cryogenic electrospinning; trabecular meshwork; porosity; pore size; cell infiltration; cell attachment; three dimensional; biomimicry; polycaprolactone

Ask authors/readers for more resources

This study aimed to create a biomimetic structure of trabecular meshwork using electrospinning. Cryogenic electrospinning showed closer recapitulation of the trabecular meshwork in terms of pore size, porosity, and thickness. Cells were able to penetrate deep within the cryo-scaffolds, whereas they remained on the outer surface of conventional scaffolds.
Human trabecular meshwork is a sieve-like tissue with large pores, which plays a vital role in aqueous humor outflow. Dysfunction of this tissue can occur, which leads to glaucoma and permanent vision loss. Replacement of trabecular meshwork with a tissue-engineered device is the ultimate objective. This study aimed to create a biomimetic structure of trabecular meshwork using electrospinning. Conventional electrospinning was compared to cryogenic electrospinning, the latter being an adaptation of conventional electrospinning whereby dry ice is incorporated in the fiber collector system. The dry ice causes ice crystals to form in-between the fibers, increasing the inter-fiber spacing, which is retained following sublimation. Structural characterization demonstrated cryo-scaffolds to have closer recapitulation of the trabecular meshwork, in terms of pore size, porosity, and thickness. The attachment of a healthy, human trabecular meshwork cell line (NTM5) to the scaffold was not influenced by the fabrication method. The main objective was to assess cell infiltration. Cryo-scaffolds supported cell penetration deep within their structure after seven days, whereas cells remained on the outer surface for conventional scaffolds. This study demonstrates the suitability of cryogenic electrospinning for the close recapitulation of trabecular meshwork and its potential as a 3D in vitro model and, in time, a tissue-engineered device.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.4
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available