3D scanning probe nanotomography of tissue spheroid fibroblasts interacting with electrospun polyurethane scaffold
A. E. Efimov, O. I. Agapova, L. A. Safonova, M. M. Bobrova, V. A. Parfenov, E. V. Koudan, F. D. A. S. Pereira, E. A. Bulanova, V. A. Mironov, I. I. Agapov
Vol. 13., No.7., Pages 632-641, 2019
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2019.53
DOI: 10.3144/expresspolymlett.2019.53
Corresponding author: A. E. Efimov 
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT
We present a 3D study of nanostructural features of a bioprinted tissue spheroid interacting with polyurethane dual-scale biocompatible scaffold manufactured by three-dimensional printing and electrospinning. Three-dimensional analysis of fibroblasts interacting with electrospun polyurethane fibers was conducted using scanning probe nanotomography with an experimental setup combining ultramicrotome and a scanning probe microscope. Three-dimensional reconstruction demonstrates direct visualization of cell membrane protrusions and coherent cell-fiber interfaces, the formation of which is a prerequisite for an efficient tissue engineered implant. Analysis of obtained 3D data allows for quantitative calculation of the important morphological parameters of adhered cells, scaffolds, and cell-scaffold interfaces. The proposed method may be successfully applied to investigate 3D cell-scaffold constructs at nanoscale.
