犧牲性纖維增進電紡絲的捲曲性與人工韌帶的功能性

Abstract

生物體內韌帶由平行排列的波浪狀纖維膠原蛋白所組成，這種波浪狀結構對韌帶的機械功能有所貢獻，例如提供關節的良好活動性。根據本實驗室先前的研究發現波浪狀電紡絲會增進韌帶細胞的表現。我們的實驗主要是探討電紡絲的捲曲度與其機械性質的關聯性，與他們對細胞的基因表現和細胞外間質的分泌量的影響。我們製造出犧牲性纖維來增進電紡絲的孔隙度，並且加熱使其捲曲。從我們的結果發現電紡絲的捲曲度會對細胞的型態與基因表現有所影響。在捲曲度最高的組別，膠原蛋白的基因表現有明顯的提升，而在長期細胞培養中，也是生產最多的黏多醣（GAGs）。很有趣的是，一開始在捲曲度最高的組別和純PLLA電紡絲的組別在toe region 的應變上沒有明顯差異，但是經過細胞長期培養之後有明顯提升。這些結果證明捲曲的電紡絲會增進人工韌帶的功能性。

The native ligament is composed of neatly arrange wavy fibrous collagen, which is believed to contribute to ligament’s mechanical function to support joint movement. We previously generated electrospun PLLA fibers with wavy structures that improved ligament fibroblast behaviors. The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between the degree of waviness and mechanical properties, and their influence on cell phenotype and ECM production. We fabricated PLLA/PEO fiber mats to control porosity and waviness with heat treatment. Our results show that cell morphology and the phenotype would be affected by the degree of waviness. Collagen type I and type III gene expression in the waviest group, were significantly increased. Furthermore at long term study, the cells produce more GAGs in the waviest group as well. Interesting, the initial toe region of the waviest group has no difference compared with PLLA alone group, but after long term cell culture the toe region strain of the waviest group significantly increased. In summary, wavier fiber improves the functionality of the engineered ligament.