Polycaprolactone Nanofibrous Layer Functionalized by Thrombocyte Rich Solution

Summary

Platelets hold a significant promise for the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering given their large content of growth factors. Released growth factors promote cell differentiation, proliferation, transcription of specific proteins, chemotaxis and other processes involved in tissue regeneration. Platelets in the form of platelet rich plasma are commonly used in vitro to stimulate cell proliferation of different types of tissue cultures. In the tissue engineering approach, cells are grown on nanofibrous scaffolds in order to create a system suitable for subsequent implantation into the human body. Nanofibrous scaffolds can be prepared from biodegradable and biocompatible polymers using electrospinning. A thrombocyte rich solution was used for modification of nanofibrous electrospun scaffolds made from the biodegradable polymer polycaprolactone, which is widely used in tissue engineering applications. The resulting scaffolds were modified in two ways: a) bathing in thrombocyte rich solution and b) spraying of thrombocyte rich solution in between forming nanofibers during the electrospinning process. Nanofibrous scaffolds were tested in vitro using mouse 3T3 fibroblasts and human dermal fibroblasts. Incorporation of thrombocytes into the nanofibrous layers increased proliferation of both cell types. The use of the spraying technique promotes cell ingrowth into 3D structures.

Key words:
platelets, electrospinning, scaffold, nanofibers, polycaprolactone