1. Health care and Energy Materials Laboratory, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, National University of Singapore, Faculty of Engineering, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576;2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576;3. Institute of Medical and Polymer Engineering, Technische Universit?t München (TUM), Boltzmannstrasse 1585748 Garching, Germany
Abstract:
A functional scaffold fabricated is developed from natural polymers, favoring regeneration of the ischemic myocardium. Hemoglobin/gelatin/fibrinogen (Hb/gel/fib) nanofibers are fabricated by electrospinning and are characterized for morphology, scaffold composition, functional groups and hydrophilicity. It is hypothesized that ex vivo pretreatment of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) using 5‐azacytidine and such a functional nanofibrous construct having a high oxygen‐carrying potential could lead to enhanced cardiomyogenic differentiation of MSCs and result in superior biological and functional effects. The combination of a functional nanofibrous scaffold composed of natural polymers and crosslinked with a natural crosslinking agent, phytic acid, and stem cell biology may prove to be a novel therapeutic device for treatment of myocardial infarction.
