Development of Endothelial Cell Networks in 3D Tissues by Combination of Melt Electrospinning Writing with Cell-Accumulation Technology

4 years ago

Development of Endothelial Cell Networks in 3D Tissues by Combination of Melt Electrospinning Writing with Cell-Accumulation Technology

Julia Hümmer, Sarah Bertlein, Gernot Hochleitner, Michiya Matsusaki, Daichi Hikimoto, Jürgen Groll, Tomasz Jungst, Mitsuru Akashi

A remaining challenge in tissue engineering approaches is the in vitro vascularization of engineered constructs or tissues. Current approaches in engineered vascularized constructs are often limited in the control of initial vascular network geometry, which is crucial to ensure full functionality of these constructs with regard to cell survival, metabolic activity, and potential differentiation ability. Herein, the combination of 3D-printed poly-ε-caprolactone scaffolds via melt electrospinning writing with the cell-accumulation technique to enable the formation and control of capillary-like network structures is reported. The cell-accumulation technique is already proven itself to be a powerful tool in obtaining thick (50 µm) tissues and its main advantage is the rapid production of tissues and its ease of performance. However, the applied combination yields tissue thicknesses that are doubled, which is of outstanding importance for an improved handling of the scaffolds and the generation of clinically relevant sample volumes. Moreover, a correlation of increasing vascular endothelial growth factor secretion to hypoxic conditions with increasing pore sizes and an assessment of the formation of neovascular like structures are included. Cell-accumulation technique combined with 3D melt electrospun poly-ε-caprolactone scaffolds enables capillary-like network formation with more than doubled tissue thicknesses compared to scaffold-free controls. Scaffold pore size and geometry influence cellular angiogenic factor consumption, determine capillary-like network orientation, and ensure physiological oxygen diffusion within the constructs.

Publisher URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/resolve/doi

DOI: 10.1002/smll.201701521