Cell alignment on novel polymeric micro-hollow fiber membranes for neural and musculoskeletal tissue engineering

Precise positioning and alignment of specific cell types, such as those in the central nervous system and the muscular system, is essential for their functional integration, their migration, and proliferation in vivo. Cell alignment in physiologically relevant tissue models and constructs is challenging to reproduce in vitro unless a three-dimensional scaffold is used. This study demonstrates that cell alignment can be guided quickly, inexpensively, and efficiently using polymeric micro-hollow fiber membranes. These micro-hollow fiber membranes are fabricated via single orifice wet spinning from biocompatible polymers—polystyrene and polycaprolactone. The physicochemical characterization of the micro-hollow fiber membranes confirmed their unique architecture, presenting a special patterning on their outer surface. To establish their potential as a platform for cell alignment via contact guidance, the viability, and degree of alignment of relevant cell lines were evaluated when cultured on the micro-hollow fiber membranes. NG108-15, olfactory ensheathing cells and SH-SY5Y cells were used with the aim to simulate the microspatial distribution of cells within the spinal cord, and C2C12 myoblasts were selected to mimic the highly organized structure seen in muscle tissue. Moreover, differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells was successfully induced while cells remained aligned with respect to the micro-HFM’s axis. The degree of alignment in all cases was quantified via image analysis in combination with the Fast Fourier Transform algorithm method. This work establishes a platform with very particular micro-topographical features that can be employed to direct growth, orientation, and even differentiation of various cell types for tissue engineering and in vitro modelling.