Final Report : Instrumentation for Investigating the Regenerative Potential of Bone - Tissue - Engineered Scaffolds

Number of Papers published in peer-reviewed journals: Final Report: Instrumentation for Investigating the Regenerative Potential of Bone-Tissue-Engineered Scaffolds Report Title This research aims to develop polymeric nanofibers that can be used as tissue scaffolds. Nanoscale fiber scaffolds provide an optimal template for cells to seed, migrate and grow. The goal is for the cells to attach to the scaffolds, then replicate, differentiate and organize into normal healthy tissues as the scaffold degrades. In this study, non-woven Poly (?-caprolactone) (PCL)/Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanofibers and Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA)/HA nanofibers with different wt % compositions were prepared by electrostatic co-spinning technology and characterized for bone tissue engineering applications. It was hypothesized that PCL/HA and PLGA/HA scaffolds will mimic the nano-features of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and are expected to be effective as a matrix for cellular growth, proliferation and new tissue formation. To test if these scaffolds mimic the properties of natural ECM, we used TRAMP C1 and TRAMP C2 cell lines derived from transgenic adenocarcinoma of mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice. The scaffolds were analyzed by MTT assay at different time points to verify cell toxicity/proliferation. Characterization for morphology of the electrospun fibers were observed using scanning electron Microscopy (SEM) and SEM micrographs were analyzed using image analysis software. The fibers were characterized for thermal behavior using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and for chemical structure using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). (a) Papers published in peer-reviewed journals (N/A for none) Enter List of papers submitted or published that acknowledge ARO support from the start of the project to the date of this printing. List the papers, including journal references, in the following categories: (b) Papers published in non-peer-reviewed journals (N/A for none) 08/29/2014 08/29/2014 Received Paper