Needleless electrospun and centrifugal spun poly-ε-caprolactone scaffolds as a carrier for platelets in tissue engineering applications: A comparative study with hMSCs

The biofunctionalization of scaffolds for tissue engineering is crucial to improve the results of regenerative therapies. This study compared the effect of platelet-functionalization of 2D electrospun and 3D centrifugal spun scaffolds on the osteogenic potential of hMSCs. Scaffolds prepared from poly-epsilon-caprolactone, using electrospinning and centrifugal spinning technology, were functionalized using five different concentrations of platelets. Cell proliferation, metabolic activity and osteogenic differentiation were tested using hMSCs cultured in differential and non-differential medium. The porous 3D structure of the centrifugal spun fibers resulted in higher cell proliferation. Furthermore, the functionalization of the scaffolds with platelets resulted in a dose dependent increase in cell metabolic activity, proliferation and production of an osteogenic marker alkaline phosphatase. The effect was further promoted by culture in an osteogenic differential medium. The increase in combination of both platelets and osteogenic media shows an improved osteoinduction by platelets in environments rich in inorganic phosphate and ascorbate. Nevertheless, the results of the study showed that the optimal concentration of platelets for induction of hMSC osteogenesis is in the range of 900-3000 x 10(9) platelets/L. The study determines the potential of electrospun and centrifugal spun fibers with adhered platelets, for use in bone tissue engineering.