Converting 2D Nanofiber Membranes to 3D Hierarchical Assemblies with Structural and Compositional Gradients Regulates Cell Behavior

Shixuan Chen, Alec McCarthy, Johnson V. John, Yajuan Su, Jingwei Xie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

65 Scopus citations

Abstract

New methods are described for converting 2D electrospun nanofiber membranes to 3D hierarchical assemblies with structural and compositional gradients. Pore-size gradients are generated by tuning the expansion of 2D membranes in different layers with incorporation of various amounts of a surfactant during the gas-foaming process. The gradient in fiber organizations is formed by expanding 2D nanofiber membranes composed of multiple regions collected by varying rotating speeds of mandrel. A compositional gradient on 3D assemblies consisting of radially aligned nanofibers is prepared by dripping, diffusion, and crosslinking. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on the 3D nanofiber assemblies with smaller pore size show significantly higher expression of hypoxia-related markers and enhanced chondrogenic differentiation compared to BMSCs cultured on the assemblies with larger pore size. The basic fibroblast growth factor gradient can accelerate fibroblast migration from the surrounding area to the center in an in vitro wound healing model. Taken together, 3D nanofiber assemblies with gradients in pore sizes, fiber organizations, and contents of signaling molecules can be used to engineer tissue constructs for tissue repair and build biomimetic disease models for studying disease biology and screening drugs, in particular, for interface tissue engineering and modeling.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2003754
JournalAdvanced Materials
Volume32
Issue number43
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2020

Keywords

  • 3D nanofiber assemblies
  • composition
  • fiber organization
  • gradients
  • pore size

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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