Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan, ROC.
Eur Cell Mater. 2010 Feb 26;19:50-7.
The purpose of this study is to develop a novel scaffold, derived from fish scales, as an alternative functional material with sufficient mechanical strength for corneal regenerative applications. Fish scales, which are usually considered as marine wastes, were acellularized, decalcified and fabricated into collagen scaffolds. The microstructure of the acellularized scaffold was imaged by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The acellularization and decalcification treatments did not affect the naturally 3-dimentional, highly centrally-oriented micropatterned structure of the material. To assess the cytocompatibility of the scaffold with corneal cells, rabbit corneal cells were cultured on the scaffold and examined under SEM and confocal microscopy at different time periods. Rapid cell proliferation and migration on the scaffold were observed under SEM and confocal microscopy. The highly centrally-oriented micropatterned structure of the scaffold was beneficial for efficient nutrient and oxygen supply to the cells cultured in the three-dimensional matrices, and therefore it is useful for high-density cell seeding and spreading. Collectively, we demonstrate the superior cellular conductivity of the newly developed material. We provide evidences for the feasibility of the scaffold as a template for corneal cells growth and migration, and thus the fish scale-derived scaffold can be developed as a promising material for tissue-engineering of cornea.
本研究旨在开发一种新型的鱼鳞片衍生支架，作为一种具有足够机械强度的替代功能材料，用于角膜再生应用。通常被视为海洋废弃物的鱼鳞片经过去细胞化、脱钙处理后被制成胶原蛋白支架。扫描电子显微镜（SEM）用于对去细胞支架的微观结构进行成像。去细胞化和脱钙处理并未影响材料的天然三维、高度中央取向的微图案结构。为了评估支架与角膜细胞的细胞相容性，将兔角膜细胞培养在支架上，并在不同时间点通过 SEM 和共聚焦显微镜进行观察。SEM 和共聚焦显微镜观察到细胞在支架上的快速增殖和迁移。支架的高度中央取向微图案结构有利于为三维基质中培养的细胞提供高效的营养和氧气供应，因此有助于高密度细胞接种和扩展。总之，我们证明了这种新型材料具有优异的细胞导电性。我们为支架作为角膜细胞生长和迁移模板的可行性提供了证据，因此，鱼鳞片衍生支架可以开发为角膜组织工程的一种有前途的材料。
