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Emulsion Electrospinning for Producing Dome-Shaped Structures Within L-Tyrosine Polyurethane Scaffolds for Gene Delivery

Smolen, Justin Alexander
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1291323933

Abstract Details

2010, Master of Science in Engineering, University of Akron, Biomedical Engineering.
Electrospun-fiber scaffolds have demonstrated great potential as platforms for wound healing and tissue engineering due to their high porosity, strong mechanical properties, and high surface area for cell attachment. Furthermore, the process of electrospinning easily lends itself to incorporating drugs or bioactive factors within polymer fibers for sustained release. For these reasons, electrospinning has been explored thoroughly for its uses in biomedical applications. However, such applications could be expanded greatly from two major developments: electrospinning a polymer that both has excellent material properties and is biodegradable and the incorporation and sustained release of a gene-therapy agent. Therefore, a biodegradable polyurethane, L-tyrosine polyurethane (LTU), has been electrospun and tested as a gene-delivery device. Using a newly developed stirring apparatus, emulsion electrospinning has been used to successfully incorporate non-viral gene vectors, plasmid DNA (pDNA) and pDNA complexed with linear poly-ethylenimine (pDNA-LPEI), within LTU scaffolds. With this method of electrospinning, a new ‘dome-shaped scaffold morphology has been produced, as seen on SEM and confocal microscopy. A certain amount of control of the size and frequency of these morphologies is achieved with the stirring speed and electrospinning voltage. When pDNA is incorporated in these scaffolds, fluorescent nucleic-acid staining and confocal microscopy verify that it is successfully encapsulated within these dome structures as well as the LTU fibers themselves. Also, gel electrophoresis and PicoGreen® quantification of the scaffold release products show that sustained release of the pDNA is provided over more than four weeks. The pDNA-loaded LTU scaffolds show a more rapid release of pDNA than the pDNA-LPEI-loaded scaffolds. Finally, attachment of human dermal fibroblasts is achieved in vitro on electrospun LTU scaffolds, as verified using immunofluorescence. Overall, this method of emulsion electrospinning provides a successful means to incorporate DNA within LTU scaffolds, along with producing a new type of morphology. Thus, electrospun LTU is a promising platform for non-viral gene therapy that may be able to meet clinical needs for a biodegradable tissue-engineering or wound-healing scaffold with high strength and elasticity.
Yang Yun, Dr. (Advisor)
Darrell Reneker, Dr. (Committee Member)
Ge Zhang, Dr. (Committee Member)
132 p.
Biomedical Engineering
Electrospinning; Emulsion Electrospinning; Biodegradable Polyurethane; Non-Viral Gene Delivery' Tissue Engineering; Secondary Structures

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Smolen, J. A. (2010). Emulsion Electrospinning for Producing Dome-Shaped Structures Within L-Tyrosine Polyurethane Scaffolds for Gene Delivery [Master's thesis, University of Akron]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1291323933

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Smolen, Justin. Emulsion Electrospinning for Producing Dome-Shaped Structures Within L-Tyrosine Polyurethane Scaffolds for Gene Delivery. 2010. University of Akron, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1291323933.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Smolen, Justin. "Emulsion Electrospinning for Producing Dome-Shaped Structures Within L-Tyrosine Polyurethane Scaffolds for Gene Delivery." Master's thesis, University of Akron, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1291323933

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Akron and OhioLINK.