Aligned and electrospun piezoelectric polymer fiber assembly and scaffold

Inventors

Scott Carnell, Lisa A. • Siochi, Emilie J. • Holloway, Nancy M. • Leong, Kam W. • Kulangara, Karina

Assignees

National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA

Abstract

A method of manufacturing and/or using a scaffold assembly for stem cell culture and tissue engineering applications is disclosed. The scaffold at least partially mimics a native biological environment by providing biochemical, topographical, mechanical and electrical cues by using an electroactive material. The assembly includes at least one layer of substantially aligned, electrospun polymer fiber having an operative connection for individual voltage application. A method of cell tissue engineering and/or stem cell differentiation that uses the assembly seeded with a sample of cells suspended in cell culture media, incubates and applies voltage to one or more layers, and thus produces cells and/or a tissue construct. In another aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing the assembly including the steps of providing a first pre-electroded substrate surface; electrospinning a first substantially aligned polymer fiber layer onto the first surface; providing a second pre-electroded substrate surface; electrospinning a second substantially aligned polymer fiber layer onto the second surface; and, retaining together the layered surfaces with a clamp and/or an adhesive compound.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a scaffold assembly and related methods for manufacturing and using the scaffold for stem cell culture and tissue engineering applications. The scaffold is designed to at least partially mimic a native biological environment by providing biochemical, topographical, mechanical, and electrical cues using an electroactive material. The assembly includes at least one layer of substantially aligned, electrospun polymer fiber with an operative connection for individual voltage application.

A method of cell tissue engineering and/or stem cell differentiation is disclosed, which involves providing an assembly with at least two layers of substantially aligned, electrospun polymer fiber having an individual voltage application connection per layer. The method includes seeding with cells suspended in culture media, incubating, applying an effective voltage to one or more layers, and recovering cells and/or a tissue construct.

The problem being solved addresses the lack of scaffolds that provide all appropriate cues necessary to mimic in vivo conditions for tissue engineering and stem cell engineering. Current scaffolds typically provide biochemical cues and lately mechanical stimuli, but only recently have electrical cues been incorporated. Novel scaffolds are required that provide adequate biochemical, mechanical, and electrical cues to direct stem cells to differentiate down controlled pathways or develop tissue constructs, thereby significantly impacting proliferation and differentiation.

Claims Coverage

The patent includes one independent claim focusing on a method for cell tissue engineering and stem cell differentiation. This claim encompasses several inventive features related to scaffold assemblies and electrical stimulation of polymer fiber layers.

The claims focus on the inventive method of using a multilayered, aligned electrospun polymer fiber scaffold capable of individual voltage application to promote stem cell culture and differentiation, highlighting the application of electrical stimuli as a key feature.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications