Evaluation of growth and differentiation of Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblast on polycaprolactone nanocomposite scaffolds (PCL)

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biocompatibility and differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblast on prepared polycaprolactone scaffolds by electrospinning method, which is located under the surface modification by oxygen plasma.
Material and After isolation of mesenchymal stem cells from human umbilical cord, flow cytometry analysis was performed. Biocompatibility of scaffold was examined using MTT assay. Cells morphology and their adhesion characteristics on the scaffold surface were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) images. Also biodegradability of scaffold calculated using weight loss method. Finally, for study the differentiation of cells on the scaffold surface, osteogenic differentiation medium was used and differentiation was performed by red alizarin staining and RT-PCR.
Results showed that the cells not only had more suitable connection and reproduction abilities on the scaffold, but also were morphologically in a natural condition. Polycaprolacton scaffold is enjoyment of high biocompatibility and its biodegradability up to 15th day done with more rates in comparison with 15 next days. Also red alizarin staining and RT-PCR results showed high rate cell differentiation on polycaprolactone scaffold.
The obtained results of this research suggested that polycaprolactone scaffolds have potential usage as biocompatible biomaterials in tissue engineering and osteogenic differentiation applications.