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. 2012 Mar 22;5(3):540-557.
doi: 10.3390/ma5030540.

Novel Textile Scaffolds Generated by Flock Technology for Tissue Engineering of Bone and Cartilage

Anja Walther  1   2 , Birgit Hoyer  3 , Armin Springer  4 , Birgit Mrozik  5 , Thomas Hanke  6 , Chokri Cherif  7 , Wolfgang Pompe  8 , Michael Gelinsky  9
Affiliations

Novel Textile Scaffolds Generated by Flock Technology for Tissue Engineering of Bone and Cartilage

Anja Walther et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Textile scaffolds can be found in a variety of application areas in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In the present study we used electrostatic flocking-a well-known textile technology-to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering of bone. Flock scaffolds stand out due to their unique structure: parallel arranged fibers that are aligned perpendicularly to a substrate, resulting in mechanically stable structures with a high porosity. In compression tests we demonstrated good mechanical properties of such scaffolds and in cell culture experiments we showed that flock scaffolds allow attachment and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells and support their osteogenic differentiation. These matrices represent promising scaffolds for tissue engineering.

Keywords: bone; cartilage; flock scaffold; flock technology; tissue engineering.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of the flocking process.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of scaffolds produced with different flocking times and fiber lengths. The figure shows representative images of longitudinal cuts of the four different scaffold types. (a) 1 mm fiber length, 5 s flocking time; (b) 1 mm fiber length, 15 s flocking time; (c) 3 mm fiber length, 5 s flocking time and (d) 3 mm fiber length, 15 s flocking time. Magnification: 100×.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM images of four scaffold types showing different flock densities. Presented are cross-sections from samples that were embedded in epoxy resin and then trimmed. Micrographs represent typical results from scaffolds with (a) 1 mm fiber length, 5 s flocking time; (b) 1 mm fiber length, 15 s flocking time; (c) 3 mm fiber length, 5 s flocking time and (d) 3 mm fiber length, 15 s flocking time. SEM images at a magnification of 200×.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Model of the flock scaffold. (a) Theoretically optimal model of the flock scaffold; (b) Balance of forces on the fiber (according to [9]).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Calculated compression strength for the different flock scaffolds as a function of the “free fiber length”. (a) 1 mm fibers; (b) 3 mm fibers.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Mechanical characterization of four different flock scaffold types. (a) Compression strength; (b) Young’s modulus. Graph shows the mean (n = 5) and standard deviation of the mean. *** p < 0.001; ** p < 0.01; ### p < 0.001 (1 mm <-> 3 mm).
Figure 7
Figure 7
Scanning electron microscopy images of cell seeded samples (1 mm fiber length and 15 sec flocking time). (a) Single cell that stretches between two fibers; (b) Scaffold after 28 days of cultivation. All spaces between the fibers are filled with cells and newly deposited ECM.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Scanning electron microscopy images of cell seeded samples with 1 mm fiber length (flocking time: 15 sec) at different time points of culture showing that flock scaffolds support proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells. (a) Top view 7 days after seeding; (b) Longitudinal view day 7; (c) Top view 21 days after seeding; (d) Longitudinal view day 21. Magnification: Top views 200×; longitudinal views 100×.
Figure 9
Figure 9
cLSM image of the scaffold surface 28 days after cell seeding. Cells were stained with DAPI/phalloidine. Actin fibers of cells appear green and nuclei of cells blue. Fibers of flock scaffold show up red because of their autofluorescence. The cells are distributed homogeneously over the surface. Scale bar represents 500 µm.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Proliferation and differentiation of hMSC in flock scaffolds with different fiber lengths and fiber distances. (a) Proliferation of osteogenically induced hMSC shown with the DNA-content of the scaffolds at time points 1, 7, 14, 21 days after seeding; (b) Specific ALP-activity of osteogenically induced hMSC on day 14 and 21 of cultivation. Graphs show mean (n = 3 bioconstructs) and standard deviation of the mean. *** p < 0.001; ** p < 0.01; * p < 0.05.
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