Functionalized Nanoscaffolds to Promote Osteogenic Differentiation in Adipose Derived Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract

Biocompatible polymers have been successfully implemented to generate nanofibers for bone tissue engineering. This work focused on generating and functionalizing Poly-l-Lactic-coGlycolic Acid (PLGA) nanofiber scaffolds in the range of 700 nm using the electrospinning technique. Our specific objective is to design synthetic biodegradable scaffolds comprising electrospun nanofibers that will not only be osteoconductive but also contain porosity for bone cell ingrowth enhanced with Adipose derived human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (AdhMSCs) and a sufficient amount of bioactive ingredient such as Demineralized Bone Matrix (DBM) that would serve as a more conducive framework for cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Cell-scaffolds and controls were subject to immunohistochemistry and visualized using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Osteocalcin and collagen were expressed the highest in cells grown on PLGA nanofibers but were low in cells grown on PLGA film or cells grown without PLGA. Cell viability data showed that PLGA did not cause any significant cell death, therefore mitigating biocompatibility concerns. Our results demonstrate that the nanoscaffolds support the cell proliferation and differentiation and can be used in osteogenic applications.