ECM - main structural tissue of skin› Helps skin renew and generate› Provides signals to intercellular pathways

Main components› Glycoproteins (such as collagen)› Proteoglycans› Hyaluronic Acid

Engineered ECMs are known as scaffolds

Ability to create scaffolds › Mimic the ECM in size and porosity› Have high surface to volume ratio

Easy to vary mechanical and biological properties through changing materials

Flexible- allows cells to manipulate their environment

Biocompatible polymer

Biodegradable at a slow enough rate to allow increased cell growth and stability

Easy to manipulate

Relatively low melting point - easy to use

Clinically safe (FDA approval)

Proven to have potential for scaffolds in relation to tissue regeneration› Has created scaffolds w/ ideal conditions

High porosities Large amounts of surface areas

Much research has shown that adding another biochemical can:› Increase stress resistance› Provide better adhesion of cells to the final scaffold› Increase the potential for cell proliferation

Biochemical should› Be a component of skin naturally› Must be able to be combined in a solution to be

electrospun

Natural polymer that exhibits biocompatible and biodegradable qualities

Cellular binding capabilities

Anti-bacterial properties

High viscosity which limits electrospinning

Good for health reasons (low toxicity, immunogenic)

Low cost – easily obtained

Poor spinnability - possibly fixed with addition of a synthetic polymer

By combining PCL with another biological polymer, an electrospun mesh can be created that mimics the ECM, exhibits optimal biocompatibility, and encourages cell attachment and proliferation

Baseline can be set for comparison of images› For the Second stage: microscope used› For the Third stage: cells used

Control image- image X

Triplicates created

Conclusion can be drawn based on rate of cell growth measured

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