Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 15.3.
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) co-electrospun from two spin-
nerets. The fluorescent dyes DiI (red) and DiO (green) were added to the
separate solutionsto distinguish the fibers. See also Color Insert.
Gradientsonelectrospunmaterialscanalsobeachievedbymod-
ifying the electrospun filaments in a spatially graded manner. For
example, Li
et al.
65
grew a mineral gradient on PCL fibers. This
resulted in spatial gradients in scaffold stiffness and osteoblast cell
densityontheresultantscaffolds.Separately,Valminkinathan
et al.
66
createdaconcentrationgradientoflaminincovalentlyboundtoelec-
trospun PCL/poly(ethylene glycol) diamine fibers by combining a
magnetic field and bioconjugate chemistries. They were then able
toverifygradientsinboththeproteinconcentrationandthedensity
of adherent Schwann cells.
15.6 Mechanics of Scaffold Deformation
and Failure Under Strain
Knowledge of the material properties of the nanofibers compris-
ing electrospun tissue scaffolds will enable the understanding of
mechanotransduction of cells seeded onto and within the scaffolds.
The overall mechanical properties of any structure built from fibers
depend on three distinct qualities: i) the architecture of the struc-
ture, ii) the physical and mechanical properties of individual fibers,
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