Sugar-fiber Imprinting to Generate Microgrooves on Polymeric Film Surfaces for Contact Guidance of Cells

Anisotropic surface topography is known to induce the contact guidance of cells, and facile and biocompatible approaches of the physical modification of the pertinent matrix surfaces are thus meaningful for biomaterials. Herein, we put forward a sugar-fiber imprinting technique to generate microgrooves on hydrophobic polymers demonstrated by the poly（lactic-eo-glycolic acid） （PLGA） films. Microgrooves were conveniently generated after removing sugar fibers simply by water. The resulting locally anisotropic microgrooves were confirmed to elongate the cells cultured on the surface.

Nanobiomaterials for neural regeneration

Diseases and disorders associated with nervous system such as injuries by trauma and neurodegeneration are shown to be one of the most serious problems in medicine, requiring innovative strategies to trigger and enhance the nerve regeneration. Tissue engineering aims to provide a highly biomimetic environment by using a combination of cells, materials and suitable biological cues, by which the lost body part may be regenerated or even fully rebuilt. Electrospinning, being able to produce extracellular matrix （ECM）-like nanostructures with great flexibility in design and choice of materials, have demonstrated their great po- tential for fabrication of nerve tissue engineered scaffolds. The review here begins with a brief description of the anatomy of native nervous system, which provides basic knowledge and ideas for the design of nerve tissue scaffolds, followed by five main parts in the design of electrospun nerve tissue engineered scaffolds including materials selection, structural design, in vitro bioreactor, functionalization and cellular support. Performances of biomimetic electrospun nanofibrous nerve implant devices are also reviewed. Finally, future directions for advanced electrospun nerve tissue engineered scaffolds are discussed.

Micropatterns and peptide gradient on the inner surface of a guidance conduit synergistically promotes nerve regeneration in vivo

Both of the surface topographical features and distribution of biochemical cues can influence the cell-substrate interactions and thereby tissue regeneration in vivo.However,they have not been combined simultaneously onto a biodegradable scaffold to demonstrate the synergistic role so far.In this study,a proof-of-concept study is performed to prepare micropatterns and peptide gradient on the inner wall of a poly(D,L-lactide-co-caprolactone)(PLCL)guidance conduit and its advantages in regeneration of peripheral nerve in vivo.After linear ridges/grooves of 20/40μm in width are created on the PLCL film,its surface is aminolyzed in a kinetically controlled manner to obtain the continuous gradient of amino groups,which are then transferred to CQAASIKVAV peptide density gradient via covalent coupling of glutaraldehyde.The Schwann cells are better aligned along with the stripes,and show a faster migration rate toward the region of higher peptide density.Implantation of the nerve guidance conduit made of the PLCL film having both the micropatterns and peptide gradient can significantly accelerate the regeneration of sciatic nerve in terms of rate,function recovery and microstructures,and reduction of fibrosis in muscle tissues.Moreover,this nerve conduit can also benefit the M2 polarization of macrophages and promote vascularization in vivo.

Topography guiding the accelerated and persistently directional cell migration induced by vaccinia virus

The rapid transmission of vaccinia virus(VACV)in vivo is thought to be closely related to the cell migration induced by it.Cell migration involved in dynamic changes of cell-substrate adhesion and actin cytoskeleton organization,which can influence by the micro/nano-scale topographic structures that cells are naturally exposed to via contact guidance.However,migration behaviors of VACV-infected cells exposed to topographic cues are still unknown.Herein,we designed an open chip with microgrooved poly(dimethyl siloxane)(PDMS)substrate to explore the topography roles in VACV-induced cell migration.Differed from the random cell migration observed in traditional scratch assay on planar substrate,VACV-infected cells had a tendency to persistently migrate along the axis parallel to microgroove with increased velocity.Moreover,infected cells exhibited a dominant elongated protrusion aligned to the micro-grating axis compare to the shorter lamella extended in any direction on smooth substrate.Interestingly,the Golgi complex preferred to relocate behind the nucleus confined within the micro-grating axis in majority of infected migratory cells.The directional polarization of cells embodied in protrusion formation and Golgi reorientation was responsible for the directionally persistent migration behaviors induced by VACV on microgrooved substrate.Infected cells response to substrate topography,causing the actin-filled stretched protrusion containing numerous virions and accelerated movement is likely to facilitate direct and rapid spread of VACV.This work opens a window for us to understand the migration behaviors of infected cells in vivo,and also provides a cue for revealing the relationship between virus-induced cell migration and virus rapid spread.