
Preparation of nanofiber platform with defined topographical features and surface-tethered bioactive cues
Nanofiber topographical and biochemical cues to be studied in this proposal. SEM images show a series of nanofibers prepared with different diameters.
We have developed methods to electrospin a wide range of biocompatible polymeric fibers (biodegradable and non-biodegradable) with controlled diameters (~150 nm to 2 µm) and alignments (aligned and randomly oriented). In order to present the relevant biochemical cues from fiber surfaces, we have developed a surface grafting method to introduce various functional groups in a concentration range of 0.1 to 200 nmol/cm2 without compromising fiber integrity.
We are in the process of developing a versatile and robust scheme for surface conjugation of biochemical cues pertinent to stem cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation, for example, key adhesion molecules (laminin and/or fibronectin) and growth factor (fibroblast growth factor-2, FGF-2). We are interested to investigate how surface presentation of signaling molecules influences the signaling activation and stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
Publications
- Lim SH, Mao HQ. Electrospun scaffolds for stem cell engineering. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 61(12): 1084-1096 (2009).
- Lin K, Chua KN, Christopherson GT, Lim S and Mao HQ, Reducing electrospun nanofiber diameter and variability using cationic amphiphiles. Polymer. 48: 6384-6394 (2007).
- Christopherson GT, Song H, Mao HQ. The influence of fiber diameter of electrospun substrates on neural stem cell differentiation and proliferation. Biomaterials. 30(4): 556-564 (2009).
- Chua KN, Lim WS, Zhang P, Lu H, Wen J, Ramakrishna S, Leong KW, and Mao HQ. Stable immobilization of rat hepatocyte spheroids on galactosylated nanofiber scaffold. Biomaterials. 26(15): 2537-2547 (2005).
- Chua KN, Tang YN, Quek CH, Ramakrishna S, Leong KW, and Mao HQ. A dual-functional fibrous scaffold enhances P450 activity of cultured primary rat hepatocytes. Acta Biomater. (2007).