Electrospun polysaccharide scaffolds: wound healing and stem cell differentiation

Abstract

Irrespective of the labyrinth of fastidiously woven artificial scaffolds, the lack of biocompatibility hampers effective clinical translation, which is the definitive purpose of any biomedical system or device. Hence, the current exploration deals with the fabrication of scaffolds with enhanced bioactivities for wound healing. The methodology used for the fabrication of the scaffolds was electrospinning of the polysaccharide, which is isolated from tamarind seed kernel using the electrospinning process. To improve the antimicrobial activity of the scaffolds, in-house synthesized silver nanoparticles were added to the scaffolds. Wound healing and antimicrobial efficiency of the scaffolds were established in murine models. An insight into the wound healing mechanism was also analyzed using differentiation screening of stem cells grown on scaffolds. The results showed that newly synthesized scaffolds presented excellent wound healing ability along with antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, detailed toxicological evaluations through the histopathology and collagen staining wound sections, the probability of any off-target effects were also ruled out. Differentiation screening showed that adipogenesis was more prominent in cells attached to the scaffolds and markers of adipogenesis were strongly expressed in fluorescent microscopy. Thus we hope that the scaffolds mediate stem cell differentiation in wounds and promote a progressive healing response. Results thus obtained were encouraging and further studies need to embark on to establish the combined role in all aspects studied here.

Keywords:

• Electrospinning
• nanofibers
• polysaccharide
• stem cells
• wound healing

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the contributions made by late Dr. Anuj Tripathi (Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India) for the experimental and preparation of this article. Authors greatly acknowledge the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, Govt. of Kerala (No. KSCSTE/5166/2017-SRSHS Dated 11/09/2017) and Board of Research in Nuclear Science (BRNS, DAE), Govt. of India (No. 37(1)/14/21/2018-BRNS/37189 dated 03/08/2018), for financial support and University Grants Commission, Govt. of India, Department of Biotechnology, Govt. of India and British Council for the research fellowships and travel grant provided to PGU, UKBS.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment, Govt. of Kerala (No. KSCSTE/5166/2017-SRSHS Dated 11/09/2017) and Board of Research in Nuclear Science (BRNS, DAE), Govt. of India (No. 37(1)/14/21/2018-BRNS/37189 dated 03/08/2018).