Development of Organ-Specific Progenitor Cell Cultures as Efficacy Test Platforms for Electron-Spun Fibre Meshes in Regenerative Medicine Applications

Abstract: The nervous and cardiovascular system plays the most complex and vital role in all organisms. Any damage or injury to these essential organs in our body results in long term irreversible impairment or death. The main goal of the regenerative medicine is to repair or recreate tissues using stem cells to restore the vital function of the targeted organ. Along with organ specific stem/progenitor cells, non-toxic, biodegradable synthetic polymers are also needed for an effective reparative therapy. The effect of PCL materials and surface modified (PEDOT coated) PCL materials of different topology with neural progenitor cells as test platforms are evaluated for cytotoxicity and neuron differentiation. The stem cells from heart are isolated and characterized as cardiac stem cells by Fluorescence activated cell sorting through specific antigen expression. The cardiac stem cells are used to establish effective proliferation and differentiation system. Hence, developing cardiac and neural progenitor cell cultures as an efficacy test platforms for biomaterials of different diameter and orientation benefits respective tissue engineering with proper restoration of function. Further, the nerve and cardiac tissue rejuvenation would serve as a regenerative therapy for numerous neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular disorders like myocardial infarction respectively.