Mechanical Properties of Microcrimped Fibers and Their Effects on Ligament Fibroblasts
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Hsu, Hsiang-Yi
Abstract
Native ligament tissue is composed with aligned-wavy collagen fiber, and the wavy structure is believed to provide ligament with mechanical properties to support joint movement while preventing dislocation. Previous studies demonstrate that cells seeded on aligned electrospun fiber had higher extracellular matrix synthesis. Thus, The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of biomimetic wavy electrospun fiber scaffolds on material properties and cell physiology. We also examined the effects of mechanical stimulation on phenotypic expression.. We successfully fabricated aligned wavy fiber scaffold by heating straight electrospun PLLA polymers over its glass transition temperature (Tg). Our results show that the wavy fiber exhibit nonlinear mechanical properties more similar to those of ligament compared with straight fibers. Furthermore, cell morphology on wavy fiber is significantly different from the straight fibers. The cytoskeleton elongates with the wavy fiber, suppressing stress fiber formation, Comparing with the straight fiber group, nucleus shape on wavy fibers has smaller aspect ratio. Fiber morphology also affects cells phenotype. The wavy fiber substrate significantly increases collagen type I, type III and tenascin-C gene expression. After dynamic loading, gene expression of collagen type I and type III increased significantly. In summary, the wavy fiber provides a biomimetic substrate for ligament fibroblasts that will result in enhanced phenotypic gene expression
Subjects
electrospinning
cell
mechanical stimulation
gene expression
Type
thesis
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