0000000000206374
AUTHOR
Nicholas J. Amoroso
Large strain stimulation promotes extracellular matrix production and stiffness in an elastomeric scaffold model
Mechanical conditioning of engineered tissue constructs is widely recognized as one of the most relevant methods to enhance tissue accretion and microstructure, leading to improved mechanical behaviors. The understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains rather limited, restricting the development of in silico models of these phenomena, and the translation of engineered tissues into clinical application. In the present study, we examined the role of large strip-biaxial strains (up to 50%) on ECM synthesis by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) micro-integrated into electrospun polyester urethane urea (PEUU) constructs over the course of 3 weeks. Experimental results indicated that VSMC …
From single fiber to macro-level mechanics: A structural finite-element model for elastomeric fibrous biomaterials
In the present work, we demonstrate that the mesoscopic in-plane mechanical behavior of membrane elastomeric scaffolds can be simulated by replication of actual quantified fibrous geometries. Elastomeric electrospun polyurethane (ES-PEUU) scaffolds, with and without particulate inclusions, were utilized. Simulations were developed from experimentally-derived fiber network geometries, based on a range of scaffold isotropic and anisotropic behaviors. These were chosen to evaluate the effects on macro-mechanics based on measurable geometric parameters such as fiber intersections, connectivity, orientation, and diameter. Simulations were conducted with only the fiber material model parameters a…
Elastomeric Electrospun Polyurethane Scaffolds: The Interrelationship Between Fabrication Conditions, Fiber Topology, and Mechanical Properties
Electrospinning has been gaining increasing popularity in the fabrication of engineered tissue scaffolds due to its ability to produce nano to micro scale fibrous sheets. Many investigators have attempted to apply various degrees of control to this process in order to produce fiber meshes with more predictable patterns. These attempts have largely been limited to controlling fiber alignment and have fallen into two categories: physical manipulation of the fibers by pulling them into alignment using a rapidly spinning mandrel[1–3] or manipulation of the electric field during fabrication.[4, 5]
Microstructural manipulation of electrospun scaffolds for specific bending stiffness for heart valve tissue engineering
Biodegradable thermoplastic elastomers are attractive for application in cardiovascular tissue construct development due to their amenability to a wide range of physical property tuning. For heart valve leaflets, while low flexural stiffness is a key design feature, control of this parameter has been largely neglected in the scaffold literature where electrospinning is being utilized. This study evaluated the effect of processing variables and secondary fiber populations on the microstructure, tensile and bending mechanics of electrospun biodegradable polyurethane scaffolds for heart valve tissue engineering. Scaffolds were fabricated from poly(ester urethane) urea (PEUU) and the deposition…