J Biomed Nanotechnol. 2013 Apr;9(4):710-8.

A new biomaterial of nanofibers with the microalga Spirulina as scaffolds to cultivate with stem cells for use in tissue engineering.

Steffens D¹, Lersch M, Rosa A, Scher C, Crestani T, Morais MG, Costa JA, Pranke P.

Abstract

The association of stem cells (SCs) with biomaterials promises to be the protagonist for future regenerative medicine in the treatment of tissue and organ lesions. Stem cells were cultivated in scaffolds constructed by the electrospinning technique, using poly-D,L-lactic acid (PDLLA) associated or not with Spirulina biomass (PDLLA/Sp), which has bioactive components of interest for tissue engineering (TE). Physicochemical analyses were performed, such as morphology, fiber diameter, degradability, residual solvent, roughness, contact angle with water, among others. SCs adhesion, proliferation and scaffold cytotoxicity were also evaluated. Nanofibers without beads and with characteristics similar to the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) in terms of mechanical and topographical properties were obtained. In biological tests it was found that SCs adhered more and had greater viability in the PDLLA/Sp molds, when compared with the PDLLA scaffolds. The scaffolds were shown to be atoxic for the SCs. It can be concluded that the scaffolds developed in this work have the characteristics to be a new biomaterial suitable for use in TE.