Electrospun linear polyethyleneimine scaffolds for cell growth

Unique biocompatible scaffolds were produced by electrospinning crosslinked linear polyethyleneimine (PEI) with succinic anhydride and 1, 4-butanediol diglycidyl ether. Nonwoven mats of PEI fibers in the range of 1600 nm to 687 nm were evaluated as interaction scaffolds for normal human fibroblast (NHF) cells. The electrospun scaffolds were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-VIS spectrophotometer, and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The growth of the NHF cells was followed by Field Emission Scanning Electron (SEM), optical and fluorescence microscopies. Cell viability was evaluated by staining with propidium iodide for dead cells and fluorescein diacetate for live cells. Immunofluorescence with fixed cells on the scaffolds was examined by staining the endoplasmic reticulum with Rabbit anti GRP 78/Alexa 488 Goat anti Rabbit and staining the nuclei with 4'-6'-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Fluorescence studies confirmed that NHF cells attached and spread through out the crosslinked linear polyethyleneimine scaffold. The attachment and spreading of cells suggests electrospun linear polyethyleneimine scaffold support growth of normal human fibroblasts cells. Thus, these biomaterial scaffolds may be useful in tissue engineering.