Spatial arrangement of polycaprolactone/collagen nanofiber scaffolds regulates the wound healing related behaviors of human adipose stromal cells

Xiaoling Fu, Hongjun Wang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

A sufficient cell source and minimal invasiveness in obtaining human adipose stromal cells (hASCs) hold great promise for their utilization in wound repair. However, little is known about how cell-residing microenvironments regulate the cellular response. In this study we explored the effects of polycaprolactone (PCL)/collagen nanofibers with distinct spatial arrangements (aligned and random) on phenotypic expression of hASCs in vitro. Elongated cell morphology, higher proliferation, and faster migration rate were observed for hASCs cultured on the aligned nanofibers, showing that hASCs could detect the nanofiber spatial arrangement and then distinctively respond. This study on the expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) related genes in hASCs revealed higher synthesis capacity for critical ECM molecules including tropoelastin, collagen I, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 on the aligned nanofibers. Integrins α5, β1, β3, β6, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 were differentially regulated by PCL/collagen nanofiber arrangements. Our results indicate that fiber orientation-induced phenotypic change of hASCs may be regulated by integrins and TGF-β signaling synergistically. These findings demonstrate the potential application of hASCs and aligned PCL/collagen nanofibers for accelerated wound repair.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)631-642
Number of pages12
JournalTissue Engineering - Part A
Volume18
Issue number5-6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Mar 2012

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