Co-electrospun nano-/microfibrous composite scaffolds with structural and chemical gradients for bone tissue engineering

Highlights: • Structural and chemical gradient nano-/microfibrous meshes were fabricated. • Rolling-up gradient scaffolds enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of MC3T3-E1. • The model drug Rg1 was incorporated into nanofibers and showed sustained release. • Rg1-containing constructs enhanced the proliferation of HUVECs. • Osteon-like cylinder with structural, compositional, and chemical gradients Recent trends in scaffold design for tissue engineering have focused on providing structural, mechanical and chemical cues for guiding cell behaviors. In this study, we presented a structural/compositional gradient nano-/microfibrous mesh by co-electrospinning, using silk fibroin-poly(ε-caprolactone) (SF-PCL) nanofibers and PCL microfibers. The pore size, porosity, and physical property of the gradient meshes were qualified. Cell proliferation of mouse osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells was carried out to estimate the effect of structural and compositional gradients on biocompatibility. Furthermore, the 2-D mesh was rolled up and the compressive property of 3-D cylinder was investigated. The results suggested that the rolled-up gradient cylinder scaffold exhibited higher osteogenic differentiation compared to the pristine nanofibrous cylinder sample. By incorporating Chinese medicine ginsenoside Rg1, sustained release was achieved in composite meshes. Rg1-containing nanofibrous meshes and Rg1 gradient cylinders enhanced the cell proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The developed fibrous scaffold may provide structural, compositional, and chemical gradients for bone regeneration.