Abstract

In airway remodeling, the extracellular matrix (ECM) regulates cell-cell signaling through cell-matrix interactions.  In order to effectively study airway remodeling, scaffold design should mimic the natural ECM.  For this study, electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers were electrospun on a rotating mandrel at various speeds, concentrations and mandrel surfaces to assess the effect of these parameters on scaffold porosity, thickness, and fiber diameter.  Inner and outer fiber diameters as well as wall thicknesses were measured via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and porosities were determined by comparing densities of scaffolds with cast discs of PCL.  One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical analysis revealed significant differences between fiber diameters produced at different polymer concentrations, no significant difference between fiber diameters on different mandrel surfaces, and no significant difference between inner and outer fiber diameters of scaffolds spun from the same concentration solution.  Though scaffold porosity was determined not to be statistically different based on solution concentration, as expected from literature, porosities scaled inversely with polymer concentration.  Scaffolds spun at 15% concentration, 1500 RPM, 10 kV and at a 2 mL/hr pump speed for less than 10 minutes possess the desired characteristics for airway tissue engineering.