Polycaprolactone nanofibrous mesh reduces foreign body reaction and induces adipose flap expansion in tissue engineering chamber

Abstract

Lin Luo,1,* Yunfan He,1,2,* Qiang Chang,1,2 Gan Xie,1 Weiqing Zhan,1 Xuecen Wang,1 Tao Zhou,1 Malcolm Xing,2,3 Feng Lu1 1Department of Plastic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 3Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada *These authors contributed equally to this work Abstract: Tissue engineering chamber technique can be used to generate engineered adipose tissue, showing the potential for the reconstruction of soft tissue defects. However, the consequent foreign body reaction induced by the exogenous chamber implantation causes thick capsule formation on the surface of the adipose flap following capsule contracture, which may limit the internal tissue expansion. The nanotopographical property and architecture of nanofibrous scaffold may serve as a promising method for minimizing the foreign body reaction. Accordingly, electrospinning porous polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous mesh, a biocompatible synthetic polymer, was attached to the internal surface of the chamber for the reducing local foreign body reaction. Adipose flap volume, level of inflammation, collagen quantification, capsule thickness, and adipose tissue-specific gene expression in chamber after implantation were evaluated at different time points. The in vivo study revealed that the engineered adipose flaps in the PCL group had a structure similar to that in the controls and normal adipose tissue structure but with a larger flap volume. Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and transforming growth factor-β expression decreased significantly in the PCL group compared with the control. Moreover, the control group had much more collagen deposition and thicker capsule than that observed in the PCL group. These results indicate that the unique nanotopographical effect of electrospinning PCL nanofiber can reduce foreign body reaction in a tissue engineering chamber, which maybe a promising new method for generating a larger volume of mature, vascularized, and stable adipose tissue. Keywords: polycaprolactone nanofibrous mesh, topography, porous structure, adipose tissue regeneration, foreign body reaction

Keywords

• Polycaprolactone nanofibrous mesh
• porous structure
• Adipose tissue regeneration
• Foreign body reaction