Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

Intervertebral disc diseases are a significant medical problem affecting many people around the world. In Poland, the statistics of the Social Insurance Institution (Medical Abuse in 2016) indicate that low back pains and other intervertebral disc diseases constitute 17% of the total number of days of sick leave. In connection with the above, current work describes design of a composite scaffold as a carrier in cell therapy, which will contribute to the regeneration of the intervertebral disc, including the increase of its height. Our composite scaffold include nanofibers that were prepared with the use of the electrospinning method. This method is a simple but powerful technique for fabricating desirable nano- and microfibers by using a high potential electric field. Human Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were cultured on the scaffold from poly(L-lactide). Proliferation kits and fluorescence microscopy were used to asses cells’ viability and adherence to the nanofibers’ surface. hMSCs were efficiently cultured on the nanofibrous scaffold. Cells could be readily detected in porous structure of the scaffold after 7 and 14 days of culture. Viability and proliferation kits proved that the material is not toxic. Drug release from nanofibrous material of model growth factor was conducted with pharmacopeia protocols. Drug release of the 14 kDa growth factor was achieved for 14 days without burst release. Nanofibrous biomaterials prove their advances in many tissue engineering applications. Adjustable porosity of the scaffold and the biocompability of biomaterial make it perfect candidate for cells’ scaffold in many medical procedures and also as a drug release carrier. With the use of single nanofibers, such biomaterials can also be readily used in minimally invasive procedures to regenerate IVD.

nanofibers, IVD, MSC