Biology subjects

Emans, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Emans, P..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

The hydrocup: a hollow electrospun scaffold for in vivo hydrogel-laden cell delivery

For regenerative medicine applications, transplanted cells are difficult to retain in a specific place to maximize the localized release of cytokines, which can positively modulate immune responses, angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. Here, we developed a hollow electrospun (ESP) scaffold with one open and one closed end to enclose a hydrogel laden with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs); we termed this combination the hydrocup. hMSCs remained viable for 28 days in vitro and released functional cytokines similar to hMSCs in transplanted but non-enclosed hydrogels. The hydrocups remained intact and fixed in place for 6 weeks after subcutaneous implantation in rats, demonstrating in vivo compatibility. These results demonstrate that the hydrocup is the first, to our knowledge, cell-laden hydrogel delivery scaffold. This innovation could be developed for a wide variety of cell-based cytokine secretion or drug-laden hydrogel applications.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2025

Wave-inspired MEW scaffolds for enhanced ligament tissue regeneration

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWLigament injuries remain a major clinical challenge due to the limited intrinsic healing capacity of these fibrous tissues. Here, we demonstrate the use of melt electrowriting (MEW) to fabricate poly({varepsilon}-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds with precisely engineered wave architectures that mimic the hierarchical organization and nonlinear mechanics of native ligaments. By tuning fiber geometry, we achieved scaffolds with distinct mechanical behaviors ranging from highly compliant to structurally resilient, enabling architecture-driven modulation of elastic modulus and fatigue response. Mechanical testing revealed that wave-patterned scaffolds dissipate energy efficiently and adapt structurally under cyclic loading, reproducing key features of ligament-like viscoelasticity. When cultured with human anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) cells, the scaffolds supported adhesion, proliferation, and spatially organized alignment, together with the expression of ligament-associated markers. The results demonstrate that MEW scaffolds provide a favorable environment for ligament cell adhesion and matrix synthesis, while highlighting the strong influence of geometry on cell organization and early matrix production. Overall, this study establishes wave-based MEW architectures as a versatile platform to guide ligament tissue formation.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2020

Full cell infiltration and thick tissue formation in vivo in tailored electrospun scaffolds

Electrospun (ESP) scaffolds are a promising type of tissue engineering constructs for large defects with limited depth. To form new functional tissue, the scaffolds need to be infiltrated with cells, which will deposit extracellular matrix. However, due to dense fiber packing and small pores, cell and tissue infiltration of ESP scaffolds is limited. Here, we combine two established methods, increasing fiber diameter and co-spinning sacrificial fibers, to create a porous ESP scaffold that allows robust tissue infiltration. Full cell infiltration across 2 mm thick scaffolds is seen 3 weeks after subcutaneous implantation in rats. After 6 weeks, the ESP scaffolds are almost fully filled with de novo tissue. Cell infiltration and tissue formation in vivo in this thickness has not been previously achieved. In addition, we propose a novel method for in vitro cell seeding to improve cell infiltration and a model to study 3D migration through a fibrous mesh. This easy approach to facilitate cell infiltration further improves previous efforts and could greatly aid tissue engineering approaches utilizing ESP scaffolds. Statement of significanceElectrospinning creates highly porous scaffolds with nano- to micrometer sized fibers and are a promising candidate for a variety of tissue engineering applications. However, smaller fibers also create small pores which are difficult for cells to penetrate, restricting cells to the top layers of the scaffolds. Here, we have improved the cell infiltration by optimizing fiber diameter and by co-spinning a sacrificial polymer. We developed novel culture technique that can be used to improve cell seeding and to study cytokine driven 3D migration through fibrous meshes. After subcutaneous implantation, infiltration of tissue and cells was observed up to throughout up to 2 mm thick scaffolds. This depth of infiltration in vivo had not yet been reported for electrospun scaffolds. The scaffolds we present here can be used for in vitro studies of migration, and for tissue engineering in defects with a large surface area and limited depth.

bioengineering↗