Ultraviolet Functionalization of Electrospun Scaffolds to Activate Fibrous Runways for Targeting Cell Adhesion

Andre F. Girao, Paul Wieringa, Susana C. Pinto, Paula A. A. P. Marques, Silvestro Micera, Richard van Wezel, Maqsood Ahmed, Roman Truckenmueller, Lorenzo Moroni*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

A critical challenge in scaffold design for tissue engineering is recapitulating the complex biochemical patterns that regulate cell behavior in vivo. In this work, we report the adaptation of a standard sterilization methodology-UV irradiation-for patterning the surfaces of two complementary polymeric electrospun scaffolds with oxygen cues able to efficiently immobilize biomolecules. Independently of the different polymer chain length of poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) copolymers and PEOT/PBT ratio, it was possible to easily functionalize specific regions of the scaffolds by inducing an optimized and spatially controlled adsorption of proteins capable of boosting the adhesion and spreading of cells along the activated fibrous runways. By allowing an efficient design of cell attachment patterns without inducing any noticeable change on cell morphology nor on the integrity of the electrospun fibers, this procedure offers an affordable and resourceful approach to generate complex biochemical patterns that can decisively complement the functionality of the next generation of tissue engineering scaffolds.
Original languageEnglish
Article number159
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages10
JournalFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology
Volume7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26 Jun 2019

Keywords

  • tissue engineering
  • scaffold
  • electrospinning
  • UV irradiation
  • photopatterning
  • cell adhesion
  • AMPHIPHILIC BLOCK-COPOLYMERS
  • SURFACE MODIFICATION
  • PROTEIN ADSORPTION
  • NANOFIBERS
  • DIFFERENTIATION
  • IMMOBILIZATION
  • DEGRADATION
  • FABRICATION
  • GRADIENTS
  • POLYMERS

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