Structural characterisation and cell response evaluation of electrospun PCL membranes: micrometric vs sub-micrometric fibers

Electrospinning is a valuable technique to fabricate fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering. The typical nonwoven architecture allows cell adhesion and proliferation, and supports diffusion of nutrients and waste products. Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) electrospun membranes were produced starting from 14% w/v solutions in (a) mixture 1:1 tetrahydrofuran and N,N-dimethylformamide and (b) chloroform. Matrices made up of randomly arranged uniform fibers free of beads were obtained. The average fiber diameters were (a) 0.8 +/- 0.2 microm and (b) 3.6 +/- 0.8 microm. PCL matrices showed the following tensile mechanical properties: tensile modulus (a) 5.0 +/- 0.7 MPa (b) 6.4 +/- 0.2 MPa, yield stress (a) 0.55 +/- 0.06 MPa (b) 0.43 +/- 0.02 MPa, and ultimate tensile stress (a) 1.7 +/- 0.2 MPa and (b) 0.8 +/- 0.1 MPa. The ultimate strain ranged between 300% and 400%. Cytotoxicity of electrospun membranes was continuously evaluated by means of electric cell-substrate impedance sensing technique using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). PCL matrices resulted free of toxic amounts of contaminants and/or process by-products. In vitro studies performed by culturing HUVEC on micrometric and submicrometric fibrous mats showed that both structures supported cell adhesion and spreading. However, cells cultured on the micrometric network showed higher vitality and improved interaction with the polymeric fibers, suggesting an increased ability to promote cell colonization.