Electrospinner: Elastic fiber-reinforced silk fibroin scaffold with double cross-linked network for human ear-shaped cartilage regeneration

Background

As an important branch of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering provides a new way to repair and regenerate damaged tissues or organs. Ideal engineered tissues should have uniform cell distribution and stable shape fidelity, but in practical applications, engineered tissues made of porous scaffolds often face challenges due to insufficient cell infiltration and insufficient mechanical properties. In response to these problems, the following studies provide innovative solutions

Fiber-reinforced silk fibroin superelastic water-absorbing sponges (Fr-SF-SEAs)

This study prepared Fr-SF-SEAs by combining silk fibroin and silk staple fibers using a physical and chemical double cross-linked network. This new scaffold exhibits ideal synergistic properties of honeycomb structure, hygroscopicity and elasticity, significantly promotes cell diffusion, and achieves uniform cell distribution at high density

Advantages of electrospinning technology

Electrospinning technology can prepare fibers with adjustable fineness, whose diameter can be adjusted from a few nanometers to tens of microns, with high specific surface area and aspect ratio, suitable for fields such as tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The nanofibers prepared by this technology can simulate the structure and biological function of natural extracellular matrix, and have good biocompatibility and degradability.

Clinical application potential of Fr-SF-SEAs

After subcutaneous implantation, Fr-SF-SEAs scaffolds can withstand dynamic pressure environments and maintain their precise original structure, achieving human-scale ear-shaped cartilage regeneration. This indicates that Fr-SF-SEAs have clinical translational potential in the reconstruction of small ear bodies.

Cell distribution and shape fidelity

Through the unconventional cyclic compression seeding method, Fr-SF-SEAs can significantly promote cell diffusion and achieve uniform cell distribution at high density, which is crucial for maintaining the shape fidelity of engineered tissues.

Development direction of tissue engineering

The development of tissue engineering not only provides technical means for tissue regeneration, but also may change the traditional medical model, further develop into regenerative medicine and eventually be used in clinical practice.

Application of electrospinning technology in tissue engineering

Electrospinning technology is widely used in tissue engineering, and can be used to prepare nanofiber films, nanofiber scaffolds, etc. These products have high specific surface area, a large number of pore structures and good air permeability, and are suitable for filtration, separation, catalysis and sensing.

Electrospinning Nanofibers Article Source:

https://doi.org/10.1007/s42765-023-00266-8