design of polycaprolactone nanofibrous scaffold as suitable substrate for limbal stem cells for corneal epithelial regeneration

purpose: to develop a nanofibrous polycaprolacton (pcl) substrate for limbal stem cell (lsc) expansion that can serve as a potential alternative substrate to replace human amniotic membrane. methods: the human limbal stem cells (lscs) were used to evaluate the biocompatibility of substrates (nanofibrous scaffold, and human amniotic membrane) regarding cellular phenotypic profile, viability, proliferation, and attachment ability. results: biocompatibility results indicated that the substrates were highly biocompatible, as lscs could favorably attach and proliferate on the nanofibrous surface. microscopic figures showed that the human lscs were firmly anchored to the substrates and were able to retain a normal corneal stem cell phenotype. microscopic analyses illustrated that cells infiltrated the nanofibers and successfully formed a three-dimensional corneal epithelium, which was viable for two weeks. immunocytochemistry (icc) and real time–pcr results revealed no change in the expression profile of lscs grown on nanofibrous substrate when compared to those grown on human amniotic membrane. conclusion:  electrospun nanofibrous pcl substrate provides not only a milieu supporting lscs expansion, but also serves as a useful alternative carrier for ocular surface tissue engineering and could be used as an alternative substrate to human amniotic membrane.