Date of Award

Spring 2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

First Advisor

Zhang, Lifeng Dr.

Abstract

Regeneration of cells on a scaffold is a main aspect in tissue engineering. Nanofibrous scaffolds from electrospinning provide great potential to engineer scaffolds for desired tissue engineering applications because they can mimic in vivo extracellular matrix (ECM). However, there is little known about how the microstructure and surface properties of electrospun nanofibrous scaffold influences the migration and growth of cells. Fundamental studies is demanded to understand the interaction between nanofibrous substrate and cells. In this research, four typical electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds including polyacrylonitrile (PAN), carbon, cellulose acetate (CA) and cellulose were prepared, characterized and then employed as scaffolds for Madin Darby Canine Kidney Epithelial Cells (MDCK). Effects of these electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds on MDCK's growth and morphology were investigated by confocal microscopy. The results from this research provide bioengineers with basic understandings on the mechanisms involved in cell-nanofibrous substrate and cell-cell interactions.

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