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Unlocking the Future of Wound Treatment with Polymeric Nanofibers and 3D Bioprinting

An area where engineering could truly make a difference is in the field of regenerative medicine, which addresses one of healthcare’s most pressing challenges: the scarcity of donor organs. Today, accidents and diseases are a major cause of tissue loss and organ failure. Because of the efficacy of immunologic suppression in the clinical setting, surgery for organ transplantation was successful in the early 1960s. However, due to a scarcity of donor organs, replacements have been severely limited.

The selection of the right biomaterial to assist cell growth and differentiation for implants is critical to their long-term success. Polymer membranes, which are both biocompatible and biodegradable, are a type of biomaterial that has shown promise in tissue engineering scaffolds.

Fabrication, Cool Experiments and Characterization

In collaboration with Dayeeta Pal, a Materials Engineer from NIT Durgapur, I attempted to compare the physico-chemical, morphological and mechanical properties as well as the cytotoxicity of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers. The studies were done at Center of Healthcare Science and Technology at IIEST Shibpur in West Bengal, India. Polymers like PCL and PMMA are being explored for their advantages in medical devices and scaffolds, particularly for use in dermatology. These materials possess the ideal characteristics for tissue engineering, including the ability to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues. By serving as scaffolds, they promote cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation, making them suitable candidates for wound healing applications.

Now, coming to my study, I used the technique of electrospinning to fabricate the polymer nanofibers. To demonstrate the feasibility of the scaffolds to support cell growth, I characterized them using mechanical testing, a fancy technique called Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), wettability tests, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The MTT assay was employed to study cytotoxicity. 15 wt% PCL and PMMA solutions were made into scaffolds with a thickness of around 0.02 mm. Human Adult Dermal Fibroblasts seeded on the scaffolds helped to test biocompatibility.

To begin with, I measured the Young’s Modulus and Ultimate Tensile Strength of the electrospun fibrous scaffolds using the Universal Testing Machine. The measurements showed that PMMA exhibited a higher Young’s Modulus and ultimate tensile strength compared to PCL. Next, I went on to explore the presence of functional groups in the produced PCL and PMMA using FTIR. The FTIR spectrometer was used to determine the chemical structure and composition. The FTIR spectra of both materials showed no significant chemical changes after electrospinning, suggesting that the process of electrospinning did not change the chemical structure of the polymers. The scaffolds maintained their structural integrity and functional characteristics which was a promising result for my experimental goals. Furthermore, the FTIR results also provided insight into the interactions between the polymers and the cells during the biocompatibility test. The presence of certain functional groups, indicate facilitation of cell attachment and growth on the scaffolds, since these functional groups can interact with proteins in the cell culture medium.

Wettability of the scaffolds is definitely another important parameter to track. The contact angle measurements of electrospun scaffolds revealed that PCL exhibits hydrophobicity with a high contact angle, while the PMMA has a lower contact angle. PCL’s hydrophobic nature and PMMA’s greater hydrophilicity explain the differences in cell attachment and viability, with PMMA supporting higher cell viability.

SEM is a cool way of evaluating the quality of cell adhesion and how properties of the fibers, such as diameter, surface roughness, and porosity, can influence cellular behavior. The specimens (with and without cells) were then gold sputter-coated and observed under SEM.

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As you can see the pretty pictures of Fig 1, SEM analysis revealed that both PCL and PMMA nanofibers provided a suitable surface for fibroblast cell adhesion. However, PMMA demonstrated better attachment efficiency than PCL.

Lastly, I tested the scaffolds cultured with fibroblasts for their cell function, cell proliferation and cytotoxicity using a technique called MTT assay. After conducting the assay, a greater number of viable cells were detected in 15 wt% PMMA than in 15 wt% PCL.

Wrapping Up

Summing up the goals and results from this experiment, fibroblasts, which can manufacture ECM and collagen, were seeded on polymer nanofibers and rendered usable for prospective therapeutic applications in dermatology, particularly in burn treatment. The films described herein are suitable for burnt treatment because they prevent water loss through perspiration and allow fibroblast attachment and proliferation. The electrospun PCL and PMMA scaffolds were tested for their mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, and cytotoxicity. Notably, PMMA was found to be a more suitable candidate for wound healing applications. However, more research with different cell types is required before they can be used to assure their safety.

I consider this study on electrospun PCL and PMMA nanofiber membranes a step forward towards the development of advanced biomaterials for wound healing and tissue engineering.

Looking Forward: My Take On 3D Bioprinting

As we move further into the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, the incorporation of 3D bioprinting has great potential to revolutionize wound healing and organ regeneration. It can produce highly customized and complex scaffolds that closely mimic natural tissue architecture very efficiently and sustainably.

I find it very exciting to see that there is potential for combining polymeric nanofibers, such as PCL and PMMA, with 3D bioprinting. With electrospun nanofibers as a basis, 3D bioprinting can develop multi-layered functional tissue constructs that promote cellular behavior, thereby offering a robust environment for cell proliferation, migration, and tissue regeneration. These innovations will help answer critical issues such as limitations of donor organs and the challenge of chronic wounds as the field progresses.

I strongly believe that the collaboration of material scientists, biologists, and clinicians is essential for translating these innovations into practical applications in the future. The future of regenerative medicine is quite bright, and a combination of electrospun nanofibers and 3D bioprinting may very well prove to be the way out for new treatments regarding tissue loss, organ failure, and other chronic conditions.

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