Fabrication the Biomimetic Extracellular Matrix and Its Application (I)

Recent advances in tissue engineering techniques have sparked interest in fabricating scaffolds with biopolymer and/or biodegradable synthetic polymer nanofibers. The rational for using nanofibers in base on the cells attach and organize around fibers with diameter smaller than the cell itself in biological system. Polymeric nanofibers usually have stronger tensile strength than microfibers, therefore, the scaffolds should have higher tensile strength than traditional used. Due to the size of nanofibres, it is difficult to form aligned fibers through physical manipulation. Nevertheless, electrospinning is able to fabricate nanofibre alignments. This gives electrospinning an important edge over other larger-scale nanofibre production methods. Some of specific cells growth needs direction guidance such as nerve, muscle, and tendon/ligament. If the artificial scaffolds could promise to provide the topographic cues to the seeded cells and may potentially enhance tissue regeneration. Over the last two decades, orthopedic sports medicine has been faced with continued repair needs associated with tear and rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), a major cause of athletic disability. The sequelae of chronic ACL insufficiency can result in episodic instability, chondral and meniscal injury, and early osteoarthritis. Despite the use of various types of grafts, no surgical treatment currently exists to restore a tendon/ligament to its normal condition. Tissue engineering techniques are being used to develop therapies for tendon/ligament reconstruction. The complexity of tendon/ligament architecture exists to withstand the composite force experience about the knee, especial the tensile stress. However, to date, no engineering construct has the appropriate biological architecture or mechanical strength for in vivo implantation. The aim of this study is to design a more biomimetic artificial extracellular matrix through biopolymer nanofibers. It cannot only mimic the nanosized dimension of natural ECM, but can also form a defined architecture to guide cell growth and development as needed. Meanwhile, in order to promote the cellular response, surface modifications of the nanofibers are also needed. We expect that this system would provide a tissue-engineering scaffold that will be mirror the mechanics of native tissue than previous studies and result in production of a more compatible tendon/ligament replacement.

Project ID:PB9709-3571
External Project ID:NSC97-2221-E182-045