Functional Nanofibrous Scaffolds Combined with Stem Cells for Advanced Biomedical Devices and Therapies

Among the various possible embodiments of Advanced Therapies and in particular of Tissue Engineering the use of temporary scaffolds to regenerate tissue defects is one of the key issues. The scaffolds should be specifically designed to create environments that promote tissue development and not merely to support the maintenance of communities of cells. To achieve that goal, highly functional scaffolds may combine specific morphologies and surface chemistry with the local release of bioactive agents. 

Many biomaterials have been proposed to produce scaffolds aiming the regeneration of a wealth of human tissues. We have a particular interest in developing systems based in biodegradable polymers. Those demanding applications require a combination of mechanical properties, processability, cell-friendly surfaces and tunable biodegradability that need to be tailored for the specific application envisioned. Those biomaterials are usually processed by different routes into devices with wide range of morphologies such as biodegradable fibers and meshes, films or particles and adaptable to different biomedical applications.

In our approach, we combine the temporary scaffolds populated with therapeutically relevant communities of cells to generate a hybrid implant. For that we have explored different sources of adult and also embryonic stem cells. We are exploring the use of adult MSCs, namely obtained from the bone marrow for the development autologous-based therapies. We also develop strategies based in extra-embryonic tissues, such as the perivascular region of the umbilical cord (Wharton´s Jelly). 

We are currently involved in a European consortium aiming at developing films with antimicrobial properties to be used in hospitals to cover surfaces that are prone to facilitate the transmission of infections. Those films use surface topographies and natural-derived oils to ensure the needed antibacterial properties to the films.

This talk will review our latest developments of functionalized biomaterials and scaffolds in combination with stem cells for advanced biomedical devices and therapies.