In Vivo Cell Migration and Growth Within Electrospun Porous Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Different Pore Sizes in a Mouse Pouch Model

Cellular infiltration into traditional electrospun nanofibers (NFs) is limited due to their dense structures. We were able to obtain polycaprolactone (PCL) NFs with variable and defined pore sizes and thicknesses by using a customized programmed NF collector that controls the moving speed during ele...

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Main Authors: David C. Markel, Therese Bou-Akl, Bin Wu, Pawla Pawlitz, Xiaowei Yu, Liang Chen, Tong Shi, Weiping Ren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Functional Biomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/181
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author David C. Markel
Therese Bou-Akl
Bin Wu
Pawla Pawlitz
Xiaowei Yu
Liang Chen
Tong Shi
Weiping Ren
author_facet David C. Markel
Therese Bou-Akl
Bin Wu
Pawla Pawlitz
Xiaowei Yu
Liang Chen
Tong Shi
Weiping Ren
author_sort David C. Markel
collection DOAJ
description Cellular infiltration into traditional electrospun nanofibers (NFs) is limited due to their dense structures. We were able to obtain polycaprolactone (PCL) NFs with variable and defined pore sizes and thicknesses by using a customized programmed NF collector that controls the moving speed during electrospinning. NFs obtained by this method were tested in vitro and have shown better cell proliferation within the NFs with larger pore sizes. This study investigated in vivo host cell migration and neovascularization within implanted porous PCL NF discs using a mouse pouch model. Four types of PCL NFs were prepared and classified based on the electrospinning speed: NF-zero (static control), NF-low (0.085 mm/min), NF-mid (0.158 mm/min) and NF-high (0.232 mm/min) groups. With the increase in the speed, we observed an increase in the pore area; NF-zero (11.6 ± 6.2 μm<sup>2</sup>), NF-low (37.4 ± 28.6 μm<sup>2</sup>), NF-mid (67.6 ± 54.8 μm<sup>2</sup>), and NF-high (292.3 ± 286.5 μm<sup>2</sup>) groups. The NFs were implanted into air pouches of BALB/cJ mice. Mice without NFs served as control. Animals were sacrificed at 7 and 28 days after the implantation. Pouch tissues with implanted NFs were collected for histology (<i>n</i> = three per group and time point). The efficiency of the tissue penetration into PCL NF sheets was closely linked to the pore size and area. NFs with the highest pore area had more efficient tissue migration and new blood vessel formation compared to those with a smaller pore area. No newly formed blood vessels were observed in NF-zero sheets up to 28 days. We believe that a porous NF scaffold with a controllable pore size and thickness has great potential for tissue repair/regeneration and for other healthcare applications.
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spelling doaj-art-04fd9bbe823d4bd49df465eead4341be2025-08-20T03:14:35ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Biomaterials2079-49832025-05-0116518110.3390/jfb16050181In Vivo Cell Migration and Growth Within Electrospun Porous Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Different Pore Sizes in a Mouse Pouch ModelDavid C. Markel0Therese Bou-Akl1Bin Wu2Pawla Pawlitz3Xiaowei Yu4Liang Chen5Tong Shi6Weiping Ren7Department of Orthopedics, Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital, Southfield, MI 48075, USADepartment of Orthopedics, Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital, Southfield, MI 48075, USADepartment of Orthopedics, Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital, Southfield, MI 48075, USADepartment of Orthopedics, Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital, Southfield, MI 48075, USADepartment of Orthopedics, 6th People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, ChinaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USADepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USADepartment of Orthopedics, Henry Ford Providence Southfield Hospital, Southfield, MI 48075, USACellular infiltration into traditional electrospun nanofibers (NFs) is limited due to their dense structures. We were able to obtain polycaprolactone (PCL) NFs with variable and defined pore sizes and thicknesses by using a customized programmed NF collector that controls the moving speed during electrospinning. NFs obtained by this method were tested in vitro and have shown better cell proliferation within the NFs with larger pore sizes. This study investigated in vivo host cell migration and neovascularization within implanted porous PCL NF discs using a mouse pouch model. Four types of PCL NFs were prepared and classified based on the electrospinning speed: NF-zero (static control), NF-low (0.085 mm/min), NF-mid (0.158 mm/min) and NF-high (0.232 mm/min) groups. With the increase in the speed, we observed an increase in the pore area; NF-zero (11.6 ± 6.2 μm<sup>2</sup>), NF-low (37.4 ± 28.6 μm<sup>2</sup>), NF-mid (67.6 ± 54.8 μm<sup>2</sup>), and NF-high (292.3 ± 286.5 μm<sup>2</sup>) groups. The NFs were implanted into air pouches of BALB/cJ mice. Mice without NFs served as control. Animals were sacrificed at 7 and 28 days after the implantation. Pouch tissues with implanted NFs were collected for histology (<i>n</i> = three per group and time point). The efficiency of the tissue penetration into PCL NF sheets was closely linked to the pore size and area. NFs with the highest pore area had more efficient tissue migration and new blood vessel formation compared to those with a smaller pore area. No newly formed blood vessels were observed in NF-zero sheets up to 28 days. We believe that a porous NF scaffold with a controllable pore size and thickness has great potential for tissue repair/regeneration and for other healthcare applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/181porous nanofiberelectrospinningmicrostructurestissue growthmouse pouch modelregenerative medicine
spellingShingle David C. Markel
Therese Bou-Akl
Bin Wu
Pawla Pawlitz
Xiaowei Yu
Liang Chen
Tong Shi
Weiping Ren
In Vivo Cell Migration and Growth Within Electrospun Porous Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Different Pore Sizes in a Mouse Pouch Model
Journal of Functional Biomaterials
porous nanofiber
electrospinning
microstructures
tissue growth
mouse pouch model
regenerative medicine
title In Vivo Cell Migration and Growth Within Electrospun Porous Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Different Pore Sizes in a Mouse Pouch Model
title_full In Vivo Cell Migration and Growth Within Electrospun Porous Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Different Pore Sizes in a Mouse Pouch Model
title_fullStr In Vivo Cell Migration and Growth Within Electrospun Porous Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Different Pore Sizes in a Mouse Pouch Model
title_full_unstemmed In Vivo Cell Migration and Growth Within Electrospun Porous Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Different Pore Sizes in a Mouse Pouch Model
title_short In Vivo Cell Migration and Growth Within Electrospun Porous Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Different Pore Sizes in a Mouse Pouch Model
title_sort in vivo cell migration and growth within electrospun porous nanofibrous scaffolds with different pore sizes in a mouse pouch model
topic porous nanofiber
electrospinning
microstructures
tissue growth
mouse pouch model
regenerative medicine
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4983/16/5/181
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