Perspective: Aligned arrays of electrospun nanofibers for directing cell migration

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jiajia Xue, Emory University; Tong Wu, Emory University; Younan Xia, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2018-12-01
• Publisher: AIP Publishing
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2018 Author(s).
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.5058083
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: APL Materials
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 12
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (No. R01 EB020050) and startup funds from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
• Keywords: Cell Biology; Biomedical Engineering; Biomolecular engineering; Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• Research Categories: Chemistry, Biochemistry; Engineering, Biomedical; Engineering, Chemical; Biology, Molecular

Abstract

Cell migration plays an important role in a wide variety of biological processes, including embryogenesis, wound healing, inflammation, cancer metastasis, and tissue repair. Electrospun nanofibers have been extensively explored as scaffolds to manipulate cell migration owing to their unique characteristics in mimicking the hierarchical architecture of extracellular matrix. In particular, aligned arrays of electrospun nanofibers are capable of guiding and promoting the directional migration of cells. The physical parameters and properties of the aligned nanofibers, including their size, modulus, and surface chemistry, can all affect the migratory behaviors of cells, while the controlled release of growth factors and drugs from the nanofibers can also be utilized to influence cell migration. By manipulating cell migration, electrospun nanofibers have been applied to promote tissue repair and help eradicate tumors in vivo. In this perspective, we highlight recent developments in collecting electrospun nanofibers as aligned arrays and then illustrate how the aligned nanofibers can be utilized to manipulate cell migration.