Nanotextured materials or nanomaterials offer diverse remarkable applications in various walks of life owing to their unique geometry. This chapter is focused on the synthesis and characterization of electrospun nanofibrous matrices as a novel biomimetic scaffold for the cultivation of cells and tissues; in particular muscle cells and tissues. Tissue engineering is exceedingly interdisciplinary branch of science which integrates the benefits of life sciences and medicine with those of engineering. In order to cultivate muscle cells in-vitro, it is necessary to have a 3D scaffold. In tissue engineering applications or even in 3D cell cultures, the biological cross talk between cells and the scaffold is controlled by the material properties and scaffold characteristics. This chapter provides a general overview of the common approaches and techniques used for designing nanofibrous scaffolds for culture of cells specifically muscle cells. The limitations and benefits of the tissue engineering are discussed.
TopIntroduction
Materials with nanoscale dimensions offer diverse attention-grabbing applications due to their unique geometry and versatile characteristics. This chapter will mainly focus on the synthesis and characterization of nanofibrous electrospun matrices as a novel biomimetic scaffold for cultivation of muscle precursor cells. The intention of this chapter is to provide a general overview of the common approaches and techniques used for designing three-dimensional (3D) culture models for the cultivation of muscle precursor cells and intercellular communication with extracellular matrix. Generally speaking, the nanotechnology refers the appreciative understanding of nano-phenomenon using tools and methods for fabrication, analysis and application of materials that possess nanometer scale measurement. Modern trends in nanomaterial synthesis deal with the preparation of hybrid nano-constructs with a variety of architectures such as nanowires, core shells, nano-flowers, nanofibers and so on through various synthetic routes. Electrospinning, an electrostatic fiber production practice has substantiated concentrated notice and attention during recent years due to its flexibility and potential for applications in diverse fields. The noteworthy applications include tissue engineering, biosensors, filtration, wound dressings, drug delivery, enzyme immobilization (Hao Fong, Liu, Wang, & Vaia, 2002; Kenawy et al., 2002; Kenawy et al., 2003; Smit, Bűttner, & Sanderson, 2005) and so on. However, our research group has made significant efforts during the past few years in order to design the biocompatible materials that can promote adhesion(Amna, Hassan, Sheikh, et al., 2013; Amna, Hassan, Shin, et al., 2013; Amna, Van Ba, et al., 2013; Amna, Hassan, Pandeya, Khil, & Hwang, 2013; Amna, Hassan, Van Ba, et al., 2013), proliferation of muscle precursor cells besides maintaining cell normal phenotype and functions (Shamshi Hassan, Amna, Hwang, & Khil, 2013; Shamshi Hassan, Amna, Sheikh, et al., 2013). In this chapter, we will discuss the fabrication of biomimetic scaffolds for in vitro cell culture; particularly our emphasis will be on skeletal muscle precursor cells. We will mainly describe the fabrication of high aspect ratio nanofiberous matrices by electrospinning technique and their utilization as biomimetic scaffolds for adhesion and propagation of muscle precursor cells, such as C2C12 myoblats (Amna, Hassan, Shin, et al., 2013) and indigenous Korean Hanwoo muscle satellite cells (Amna, Hassan, Van Ba, et al., 2013) and fibroblasts etc.