Production of Polycaprolactone Microcarriers using Electrospray for Fibroblast Cultures

Abstract

In order to culture anchorage-dependent cells in bioreactors, is required to produce microcarriers on which cells can adhere and proliferate. Current tissue engineering studies have introduced electrospray as a technique to manufacture nano and micro size structures. Since the material employed to build these structures has to display biocompatibility, poly-e-caprolactone was utilized as it is a biopolymer that shows a good response by the host cells. This research focused on developing poly-e-caprolactone microcarriers by using electrospray technique evaluating the diameter, porosity, and cytotoxicity thereof. Microcarriers were yielded at two chloroform concentrations, flows, and distances respectively from a syringe to a collector. Every test performed was carried out at 8 kV. The best findings were at both a concentration of 8 % w/v, flow of 2.0 mL/h, and diameter range from 79.39 µm to 143.54 µm (mean at of 112.39 µm). The scanning electronic microscopy runs depict low porosity, which is an essential characteristic in order to form an appropriated surface for the cellular adhesion and proliferation in spinner bioreactors. The cytotoxicity assays did not exhibit adverse effects on the cells when commercial fibroblast murine was employed. These findings allow carrying on the edge-cutting development of human fibroblasts cultured in spinner reactors.