In Vitro Culture Model of Anisotropic to Isotropic Transition

RPI ID:
2015-010-401 / 2015-010-601

Innovation Summary:
A hybrid biomaterial platform integrates aligned electrospun fiber regions with adjacent isotropic film surfaces on a single culture substrate, creating a controlled anisotropic‑to‑isotropic boundary that models lesion‑edge transitions found in injured tissues such as spinal cord, tendon, and muscle. Selective dissolution of fiber zones (e.g., via nebulized chloroform) forms sharply defined interfaces while preserving highly aligned scaffolds elsewhere, enabling direct visualization of how neurons, glia, and other cell types migrate, polarize, and extend processes when encountering shifts in topography. The construct supports quantitative studies of axon guidance, astrocyte behavior, and scar‑like barriers, while remaining compatible with standard imaging, cell‑culture workflows, and high‑content analysis. Kits can include pre‑fabricated substrates and reagents, providing a reproducible, scalable alternative to costly and low‑throughput in vivo injury models.

Challenges / Opportunities:
Creating uniform fiber alignment, diameter, and dissolution boundaries requires precise control of electrospinning, solvent exposure, and surface chemistry to ensure reproducibility across experiments. Minimizing confounding biochemical cues—such as charge and stiffness differences—helps isolate topographical effects. Scaling the platform to multiwell and microfluidic formats enables high‑throughput drug screening and mechanistic assays, while custom geometries (gradients, Y‑junctions, patterned boundaries) can model complex lesion architectures. Strong opportunities exist for partnerships in regenerative medicine, pharmaceutical screening of pro‑regenerative compounds, and development of next‑generation educational kits for mechanobiology and neural engineering training.

Key Benefits / Advantages:
✔ Single construct combining aligned fibers with flat isotropic film
✔ Reproducible anisotropic–isotropic boundaries that mimic injury transitions
✔ Supports neural, tendon, muscle, and other cell types
✔ Compatible with standard imaging, assays, and high‑content workflows
✔ Enables regenerative‑medicine screening without in vivo complexity
✔ Facilitates mechanobiology studies of migration, polarity, and guidance

Applications:
• Spinal cord and peripheral nerve injury modeling
• Tendon and muscle regeneration research
• Screening of pro‑regenerative drugs, biologics, or biomaterials
• Mechanobiology and high‑content imaging assays
• Educational and training kits for tissue engineering and neuroscience

Keywords:
electrospun fibers, anisotropic–isotropic boundary, regenerative medicine, neural injury model, topographical guidance, PLLA scaffolds

Intellectual Property:
Issued patents US 10,253,287; US 11,149,241