This work was partially funded through the Richard Barber Foundation and a Thomas Rumble Fellowship (TJW).

1. Water/Oil/Water Double Emulsion Microsphere Production
<ol>
	<li>First prepare 2% and 0.5% w/v solutions of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in deionized water. Stir the solutions at 50 &#176;C until clear, this may take several hours. Prepare a solution of 2% v/v Isopropyl Alcohol in deionized water.</li>
	<li>Prepare an aqueous solution of desired hydrophilic protein. The table below provides example formulations.</li>
	</ol>
	<img alt="Table 1" src="/files/ftp_...

<ol>
	<li>Wrobel, M. R., Sundararaghavan, H. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Directed+migration+in+neural+tissue+engineering.">Directed migration in neural tissue engineering.</a> Tissue Eng Part B Rev. , (2013).</li><li>Schmidt, C. E., Leach, J. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+tissue+engineering:+strategies+for+repair+and+regeneration.">Neural tissue engineering: strategies for repair and regeneration.</a> Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering. 5, 293-347 (2003).</li><li>Madduri, S., di Summa, P., Papaloizos, M., Kalbermatten, D., Gander, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+controlled+co-delivery+of+synergistic+neurotrophic+factors+on+early+nerve+regeneration+in+rats.">Effect of controlled co-delivery of synergistic neurotrophic factors on early nerve regeneration in rats.</a> Biomaterials. 31, 8402-8409 (2010).</li><li>Madduri, S., Gander, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+factor+delivery+systems+and+repair+strategies+for+damaged+peripheral+nerves.">Growth factor delivery systems and repair strategies for damaged peripheral nerves.</a> J Control Release. 161, 274-282 (2012).</li><li>Madigan, N. 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A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrospun+fibrous+scaffolds+with+multiscale+and+photopatterned+porosity.">Electrospun fibrous scaffolds with multiscale and photopatterned porosity.</a> Macromol Biosci. 10, 265-270 (2010).</li><li>Edalat, F., Sheu, I., Manoucheri, S., Khademhosseini, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Material+strategies+for+creating+artificial+cell-instructive+niches.">Material strategies for creating artificial cell-instructive niches.</a> Current Opinion in Biotechnology. 23, 820-825 (2012).</li><li>Annabi, N., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Synthesis+of+highly+porous+crosslinked+elastin+hydrogels+and+their+interaction+with+fibroblasts+in+vitro.">Synthesis of highly porous crosslinked elastin hydrogels and their interaction with fibroblasts in vitro.</a> Biomaterials. 30, 4550-4557 (2009).</li><li>Casta&#241;o, O., Eltohamy, M., Kim, H. -. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrospinning+technology+in+tissue+regeneration.">Electrospinning technology in tissue regeneration.</a> Methods Mol. Biol. 811, 127-140 (2012).</li><li>Chew, S. Y., Wen, J., Yim, E. K. F., Leong, K. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Sustained+release+of+proteins+from+electrospun+biodegradable+fibers.">Sustained release of proteins from electrospun biodegradable fibers.</a> Biomacromolecules. 6, 2017-2024 (2005).</li><li>Han, D., Gouma, P. -. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrospun+bioscaffolds+that+mimic+the+topology+of+extracellular+matrix.">Electrospun bioscaffolds that mimic the topology of extracellular matrix.</a> Nanomedicine. 2, 37-41 (2006).</li><li>Prabhakaran, M. P., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrospun+biocomposite+nanofibrous+scaffolds+for+neural+tissue+engineering.">Electrospun biocomposite nanofibrous scaffolds for neural tissue engineering.</a> Tissue Eng Part A. 14, 1787-1797 (2008).</li><li>Xie, J., MacEwan, M. R., Schwartz, A. G., Xia, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrospun+nanofibers+for+neural+tissue+engineering.">Electrospun nanofibers for neural tissue engineering.</a> Nanoscale. 2, 35-44 (2010).</li><li>Yao, L., O'Brien, N., Windebank, A., Pandit, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Orienting+neurite+growth+in+electrospun+fibrous+neural+conduits.">Orienting neurite growth in electrospun fibrous neural conduits.</a> J. Biomed. Mater. Res. Part B Appl. Biomater. 90, 483-491 (2009).</li><li>Sill, T. J., von Recum, H. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrospinning:+applications+in+drug+delivery+and+tissue+engineering.">Electrospinning: applications in drug delivery and tissue engineering.</a> Biomaterials. 29, 1989-2006 (2008).</li><li>Ifkovits, J. L., Sundararaghavan, H. G., Burdick, J. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Electrospinning+fibrous+polymer+scaffolds+for+tissue+engineering+and+cell+culture.">Electrospinning fibrous polymer scaffolds for tissue engineering and cell culture.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments: JoVE. , (2009).</li><li>Sundararaghavan, H. G., Burdick, J. 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The authors have nothing to disclose.

Many studies have shown that nerve cells can be directed by topographical cues (fiber alignment) and chemical cues (growth factors)1,2,10,11,35. Electrospinning is a facile method to create aligned fibers. Growth factors encourage nerve growth but in order to include them into nerve conduits (NC), a method for sustained release is required. To create a more robust system with both cues, these two signals should be combined. Several methods have been previously studied to provide extended release of protein wit...

One of the ongoing challenges in neural tissue engineering is creating a nerve conduit (NC) that mimics the extra cellular matrix, where nerves grow naturally. Research has shown that cells respond to several factors in their environment including mechanical, topographical, adhesive and chemical signals1-3. One of the primary challenges in this field is determining the appropriate combination of signals and fabricating a system that can maintain cues for an extended period to support cell growth4. Peripheral neurons are known to prefer a soft substrate, be directed by aligned fibers, and respond to nerve growth factor (NGF)5-7. NCs that can provide chemical cues for weeks have been shown to provide improved functional recovery closer to that of allografts, the current gold standard for nerve repair8,9.
Various materials and production methods can be used to produce mechanical and topographical cues10-13. Mechanical cues are inherent to the material chosen, making selection of the appropriate material for the application critical1,13. Production methods to control topographical cues include phase separation, self-assembly and electrospinning1,13. For microscale applications, microfluidics, photopatterning, etching, salt leaches, or gas foams can also be used14-17. Electrospinning has emerged as the most popular way to engineer fibrous substrates for tissue culture due to its flexibility and ease of production13,18-23. Electrospun nanofibers are fabricated by applying a high voltage to a polymer solution causing it to repel itself and stretch across a short gap to discharge24. An aligned scaffold can be created by collecting the fibers on a grounded rotating mandrel and nonaligned scaffolds are collected on a stationary plate25. Adhesion signaling can be achieved by coating the fibrous scaffold with fibronectin or conjugating an adhesion peptide, such as RGD, to the HA before electrospinning26.
Chemical signals, such as growth factors, are the most difficult to maintain over extended periods because they need a source for controlled release. Many systems have been attempted to add controlled release to electrospun fibrous networks with varying levels of success. These methods include blend electrospinning, emulsion electrospinning, core shell electrospinning and protein conjugation27. Additionally, electrospinning is traditionally done in a volatile solvent, which can affect the viability of the protein28, therefore maintaining bioactivity of the protein must be considered.
This approach specifically addresses combining mechanical, topographical, chemical and adhesive signals to create a tunable scaffold for peripheral nerve growth. Scaffold mechanics is precisely controlled by synthesizing methacrylated Hyaluronic Acid (HA). The methacrylation sites are used to attach photo reactive crosslinkers. The crosslinked material is no longer water soluble and is exclusively broken down by enzymes29. The amount of crosslinking changes the degradation rate, mechanics and other physical properties of the material. Using HA with 30% methacrylation, which has a tensile modulus of ~500 Pa, creates a soft substrate that is close to the native mechanics of neural tissue and is typically preferred by neurons26,29. Electrospinning on a rotating mandrel is used to create aligned fibers for a topographical cue. Using electrospinning along with microspheres provides chemical signals within the scaffold over extended periods. To support neurite growth microspheres containing NGF are used to create the chemical signal. Unlike most electrospun materials HA is soluble in water so the NGF does not encounter harsh solvents during production. To add an adhesive signal, the scaffold is coated with fibronectin. The completed system contains all four types of signals described above: soft (mechanical) aligned (topographical) fibers with NGF releasing microspheres (chemical) coated with fibronectin (adhesive). Production and testing of this system is described in this protocol.
The process begins with the production of the microspheres with a Water-in-Oil-in-Water Double Emulsion. The emulsion is stabilized with a surfactant, Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA). The inner water phase contains the protein. As it is added to the oil phase, containing the PLGA shell material dissolved in Dichloromethane (DCM), the surfactant creates a barrier between the phases protecting the protein from the DCM. This emulsion is than dispersed in another water phase containing PVA to create the outer surface of the microspheres. The stable emulsion is stirred to allow the DCM to evaporate. After rinsing and lyophilizing you are left with the dry microspheres containing the protein.
After the microspheres are completed they are ready to be electrospun into scaffolds. First you prepare the electrospinning solution. The viscosity of the solution is critical to proper fiber formation. Solutions of pure HA do not meet this requirement; PEO is added as a carrier polymer to allow for electrospinning. The microspheres are added to the solution and electrospun resulting in a fibrous scaffold with microspheres distributed throughout.
Once the production is complete, the protein should be tested to verify its viability. To do this, a primary cell that responds to NGF can be used. This protocol uses Dorsal Root Ganglia (DRG) from 8-10 day old chicken embryos. The cell bundles are seeded onto scaffolds containing microspheres filled with NGF or ones that are empty. If the NGF is still viable you should see enhanced neurite growth on the NGF containing scaffolds. If the NGF is no longer viable it will not promote neurites to extend and should appear similar to the control.
The exact procedure described herein is focused on neural support, however, with simple modifications to the material, electrospinning method, and proteins the system can be optimized for various cell and tissue types.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="906">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">DAPI</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Invitrogen</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">D1306</td>
			<td style="width:291px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Irgacure 2959</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">BASF</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">24650-42-8</td>
			<td style="width:291px;">Protect from light</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">PEO 900 kDa</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:139px;">189456</td>
			<td style="width:291px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:269px;">Methacryloxethyl thiocarbamoyl rhodamine B</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Polysciences, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">23591-100</td>
			<td style="width:291px;">Prepare stock solution in DMSO</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Syringe Pump</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">KD Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">KDS100</td>
			<td style="width:291px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Power Source</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Gamma High Voltage</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">ES30P-5W</td>
			<td style="width:291px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Motor</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Triem Electric Motors, Inc</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">0132022-15</td>
			<td style="width:291px;">Must attach to a custom built mandrel</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Tachometer</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Network Tool Warehouse</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">ESI-330</td>
			<td style="width:291px;">Use to monitor mandrel speed</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:269px;">Omnicure UV Spot Cure System with collimating adapter</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">EXFO</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">S1000</td>
			<td style="width:291px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Needles</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">14-825-16H</td>
			<td style="width:291px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Coverslips</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">12-545-81</td>
			<td style="width:291px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Polyvinyl Alcohol</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">P8136-250G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Isoporopyl Alcohol</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">I9030-500mL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">BP9703-100</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">BSA-FITC</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">080M7400</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">&#946;-Nerve Growth Factor (NGF)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">R&#38;D Systems</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">1156-NG</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">65:35 Poly-Lactic-Glycolic-Acid (PLGA)</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:139px;">1001554270</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Dichloromethane</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">34856-2L</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Coomassie (Bradford) Protein Assay</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Thermo Scientific</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:139px;">1856209</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td align="right" style="width:139px;">1001558456</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Fibronectin</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">F2006</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">DMEM</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Lonza</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">12-604F</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">FBS</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Atlanta Biologicals</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">S11150</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">PBS</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Hyclone</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">SH30256.01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Glutamine</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>G7513</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Pen-Strep</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">P4333</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td style="width:208px;">Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td style="width:139px;">A11313&#160;</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

electrospinning growth factor releasing microspheres into fibrous scaffolds

This procedure describes a method to fabricate a multifaceted substrate to direct nerve cell growth. This system incorporates mechanical, topographical, adhesive and chemical signals. Mechanical properties are controlled by the type of material used to fabricate the electrospun fibers. In this protocol we use 30% methacrylated Hyaluronic Acid (HA), which has a tensile modulus of ~500 Pa, to produce a soft fibrous scaffold. Electrospinning on to a rotating mandrel produces aligned fibers to create a topographical cue. Adhesion is achieved by coating the scaffold with fibronectin. The primary challenge addressed herein is providing a chemical signal throughout the depth of the scaffold for extended periods. This procedure describes fabricating&#160;poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microspheres that contain Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and directly impregnating the scaffold with these microspheres during the electrospinning process. Due to the harsh production environment, including high sheer forces and electrical charges, protein viability is measured after production. The system provides protein release for over 60 days and has been shown to promote primary nerve cell growth.

Microspheres 50&#177;14 &#181;m in diameter with an over 85% protein encapsulation have been consistently produced and electrospun into scaffolds. Size was determined by imaging samples of microspheres from three separate production batches. The images where captured on an optical microscope and lengths where measured using commercial lab software. Figure 1 shows a histogram of the size distribution. Encapsulation rate was also tested from three separate microsphere batches, by quantifying the protein th...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Electrospinning Growth Factor Releasing Microspheres into Fibrous Scaffolds at JoVE.com

Electrospinning Growth Factor Releasing Microspheres into Fibrous Scaffolds

This protocol combines electrospinning and microspheres to develop tissue engineered scaffolds to direct neurons. Nerve growth factor was encapsulated within PLGA microspheres and electrospun into Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fibrous scaffolds. The protein bioactivity was tested by seeding the scaffolds with primary chick Dorsal Root Ganglia and culturing for 4-6 days.

This procedure describes a method to fabricate a multifaceted substrate to direct nerve cell growth.  This system incorporates mechanical, topographical, ...

electrospinning-growth-factor-releasing-microspheres-into-fibrous

Research

JoVE Journal

Bioengineering

12.2K vues.  Wayne State University. This protocol combines electrospinning and microspheres to develop tissue engineered scaffolds to direct neurons. Nerve growth factor was encapsulated within PLGA microspheres and electrospun into Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fibrous scaffolds. The protein bioactivity was tested by seeding the scaffolds with primary chick Dorsal Root Ganglia and culturing for 4-6 days.