Fabrication of cell-penetrable microfibrous matrices with a highly porous structure using a simple fluidic device for tissue engineering

• Highly porous microfibrous matrices were fabricated using a fluidic device.
• The fiber diameter can be simply tuned by changing the continuous phase flow rate.
• The highly porous structure facilitated cell penetration into the matrix.
• Cell culture revealed the fast proliferation of cells on the microfibrous matrix.

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microfibrous matrices with a highly porous structure were fabricated using a simple fluidic device and precipitation method. Organic solution (dichloromethane) containing PCL and ethanol were used as the discontinuous and continuous phases, respectively, in the fluidic device. The PCL solution was precipitated at the tip of the needle upon the contact with the ethanol, forming uniform fibers. The precipitated fibers were collected at the bottom of a vial containing ethanol. The increase in the flow rate of the continuous phase led to the decreases in the diameter of microfiber and pore size of the matrix. Three-dimensional confocal microscopy images confirmed the highly porous structure of the microfibrous matrices that is sufficient for cell penetration. A cell proliferation assay revealed a faster rate of cell proliferation on the microfibrous matrix compared with the typical electrospun-fibrous matrix. These results suggest that the microfibrous matrix could potentially be used for tissue engineering.

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