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Stem Cell Nanotechnology pp 25–40Cite as

Composite Electrospun Nanofibers for Influencing Stem Cell Fate

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1058))

Abstract

The design of new bioactive materials, provided with “instructive properties” and able to regulate stem cell behavior, is the goal for several research groups involved in tissue engineering. This new function, commonly reserved for growth factors, can lead to the development of a new class of implantable scaffolds, useful for accelerating tissue regeneration in a controlled manner. In this scenario, the likely most versatile and effective tools for the realization of such scaffolds are based on nano- and microtechnology. Here, we show how exploiting the electrostatic spinning (ES) technique for producing a nanofibrillar composite structure, by mimicking topographically the extracellular matrix environment, can influence the fate of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, inducing osteogenic differentiation in the absence of chemical treatments or cellular reprogramming. Basic cues on the choice of the materials and useful experimental instructions for realizing composite nanofibrous scaffolds will be given as well as fundamental tips.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Italian Minister of University and Research for financial support through the FIRB Contracts RBIP068JL9 and RBNE08BNL7 (MERIT Program).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Nanoscienze, National Nanotechnology Laboratory of CNR (National Research Council), Lecce, Italy

    Alessandro Polini

  2. IEIIT Institute, CNR (National Research Council), Genoa, Italy

    Silvia Scaglione

  3. Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale (DIMES), Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy

    Rodolfo Quarto

  4. Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica “Ennio De Giorgi”, Università del Salento, Lecce, Italy

    Dario Pisignano

  5. Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia @UniLe, Arnesano, Italy

    Dario Pisignano

Authors
  1. Alessandro Polini
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  2. Silvia Scaglione
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  3. Rodolfo Quarto
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  4. Dario Pisignano
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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Polini, A., Scaglione, S., Quarto, R., Pisignano, D. (2013). Composite Electrospun Nanofibers for Influencing Stem Cell Fate. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Stem Cell Nanotechnology. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1058. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2012_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2012_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-570-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-571-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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