WO2012037505A2

WO2012037505A2 - Polymeric support with nanofeatures for cell culture

Info

Publication number: WO2012037505A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/052011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Melinda Larsen; Riffard Jean-Gilles; Sharon Sequeira; James Castracane; David Soscia
Original assignee: The Research Foundation Of State University Of New York
Priority date: 2010-09-16
Filing date: 2011-09-16
Publication date: 2012-03-22
Also published as: WO2012037505A3

Abstract

The invention provides a cell support comprising a nanofiber structure disposed on a concave surface of a substrate. The curvature of the substrate in combination with the nanotopography provided by the nanofibers supports provides the necessary environment cues that promote growth, differentiation and morphogenesis of secretory epithelial cells, such as salivary gland epithelial cells.

Description

Polymeric Support With Nanofeatures for Cell Culture

Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional applications, serial no. 61/383,452 filed 9/16/2010, serial no. 61/392,670 filed 10/13/2010, and serial no. 61/420,035 filed 12/06/2010; the contents of each are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application.

Statement of Rights Under Federally-Sponsored Research

[0002] This invention was made with government support under grant no.

1 R21 DE019197 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in the invention.

Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to supports for cellular attachment, growth, differentiation and morphogenesis. The invention also relates to methods of making and using these supports for tissue engineering and high throughput screening. In particular, the present invention relates to a structure to support the growth, differentiation and morphogenesis of secretory epithelial cells, such as salivary gland epithelial cells.

Background of the Invention

[0004] The need for technologies that will maintain, improve or even restore the function of diseased organs is growing. One example of such a disease is xerostomia, a condition that results from salivary gland hypofunction (insufficient saliva production) and which is a significant clinical problem in the United States.

Xerostomia causes a decreased quality of life as the result of multiple symptoms, including increased dental caries, oropharyngeal infections, difficulties with swallowing (dysphagia) and digestion (mucositis), loss of taste, and pain. There are three primary causes of xerostomia: 1 ) Sjogren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease affecting 1 -4 million Americans, 2) radiation therapy (60,000 head and neck cancer

l patients diagnosed annually in the United States) [2], and 3) combinatorial side effects of medications. Patients suffering from these conditions experience a decreased quality of life resulting from multiple symptoms, yet the current treatment methods are inadequate [1 ].

[0005] There is currently a significant clinical need for artificial salivary glands to relieve symptoms in patients suffering from xerostomia and therefore, considerable interest in creating an artificial salivary gland. An engineered functional salivary gland could provide relief for these patients.

[0006] One of the most significant challenges currently faced by tissue engineering is the creation of complex 3D structures that functionally replicate native tissues.

Maintenance of salivary acinar cell differentiation and function in vitro is critical to the successful engineering of such constructs; however, this breakthrough has not yet been achieved. This is primarily due to the current lack of basic scientific knowledge regarding the specific extracellular signals regulating acinar cell differentiation, which remains a substantial limitation in the ability to engineer a functional artificial salivary gland. Previous work has not produced an appropriate environment that successfully mimics the native extracellular matrix to support growth and differentiation of salivary acinar cells [3, 4].

Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention represents the outcome of an innovative

interdisciplinary strategy combining the synthesis of nanofibers with micro- and nano-scale patterning to create a cell support structure that promotes acinar cell differentiation and salivary gland tissue development ex vivo. By independently modulating nanotopography, micropatterning, and chemical signaling, the

contributions of each factor is optimized to engineer constructs that support acinar cell differentiation and function.

[0008] The present invention provides novel and improved compositions and methods for the growth, differentiation and morphogenesis of secretory epithelial cells into functional units by providing a cell support structure that approximates the mechanical and chemical properties of the natural structural environment needed to facilitate development toward acinar formation.

[0009] In one aspect, therefore, the invention relates to a cell support having a concave surface and comprising a nanofiber structure. The nanofiber structure may be patterned on a concave surface of a substrate, for example, a substrate that has been micropatterned with one or more depressions or craters.

[0010] In a related aspect, the invention relates to a cell support comprising a nanofiber structure that has been created by electrospinning polymers selected from synthetic polymers, natural polymers, protein engineered biopolymers,

biodegradable or non-biodegradable polymers or combinations thereof. Optionally, the polymer used to generate the nanofibers is derivatized with active groups (e.g. carboxylic, hydroxyl or amino groups or the like) so that the chemical and/or mechanical properties of the polymer may be modified before or after formation of the nanofiber structure, for example, to facilitate the incorporation of biologically active molecules into the nanofiber structure.

[0011] In yet another related aspect, the invention relates to a cell support comprising a nanofiber structure comprising a polymer selected from the group consisting of silk, laminin, poly(E-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(£-caprolactone-co-ethyl ethylene phosphate) (PCLEEP), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(lactic acid-co- ε -caprolactone) (PLACL), and polydioxanone (PDO), poly acrylamide (PAAM), poly acrylic acid (PAA), poly acrylonitrile (PAN), poly amide (Nylon) (PA, PA-4,6, PA-6,6), poly aniline (PANI), poly benzimidazole (PBI), poly bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) phosphazene, poly butadiene (PB), poly carbonate (PC), poly ether amide (PEA), poly ether imide (PEI), poly ether sulfone (PES), poly ethylene (PE), poly ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA), poly ethylene glycol (PEG), poly ethylene oxide (PEO), poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), poly

ferrocenyldimethylsilane (PFDMS), poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), poly 4-methyl-1 -pentene (TpX), poly methyl methacrylate (pMMA), poly p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA), poly propylene (PP), poly pyrrole (PPY), poly styrene (PS), polybisphenol-A sulfone (PSF), poly sulfonated styrene (PSS), Styrene-butadiene- styrene triblock copolymer (SBS), poly urethane (PU), poly tetrafluoro ethylene (PTFE), poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), poly vinyl carbazole, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), poly vinyl phenol (PVP), poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and poly vinylidene difluoride (PVDF).

[0012] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a cell support having a nanofiber structure that has been derivatized so that biological molecules can be incorporated into the nanofiber structure. Derivatization of the polymer may be done prior to or following electrospinning.

[0013] In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of making a cell support of the invention comprising providing a substrate having a concave surface or more than one concave surface and using a process, such as electrospinning, to dispose a nanofiber structure over the concave surface of the substrate. Prior to disposition of the nanofiber onto the substrate, a concave surface may be formed in the substrate by micropatterning of craters or depressions in the substrate using lithography. The curvature of the concave surface will be defined by the aspect ratio applicable to the depressions or craters, that is, the ratio of the depth of the crater to the radius of the crater. The craters of the invention have a radius in the range of about 10 to about 100 μιτι; in one embodiment, the craters have a radius in the range of about 20 μιτι to about 80 μιτι; in one embodiment, the craters have a radius in the range of about 30 μιτι to about 60 μιτι. Depth of the craters is in the range of about 20 μιτι to about 40 μιτι. The cell support of the invention has a concave surface with an aspect ratio of about 0.5 to about 1 .0; in one embodiment, the concave surface has a curvature with an aspect ratio of about 0.8 to 1 .0.

[0014] In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for promoting differentiation and morphogenesis of secretory epithelial cells ex vivo, the method comprising seeding secretory epithelial cells on the nanofiber structure of the cell support of the invention; and incubating said cell support and cells under conditions sufficient for proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis of said cells to occur. [0015] In a related aspect, the invention relates to a device and method for screening compounds that modulate secretory epithelial cell development. The device comprises a substrate having a concave surface, a nanofiber structure disposed over the concave surface of the substrate and secretory epithelial cells seeded on the nanofiber structure of the device. The method comprises providing a device comprising a substrate having a concave surface and a nanofiber structure disposed on the concave surface of the substrate, seeding secretory eptithelial cells on the nanofiber structure of said cell support; incubating said cell support and cells under conditions otherwise sufficient for proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis to occur in the presence and absence of the compound to be tested; monitoring development of cells in the presence of the compound and monitoring development of cells in the absence of the compound and comparing the development of cells grown in the presence of the compound with the development of cells grown in the absence of the compound to determine the effect of the test compounds on development, proliferation, and differentiation and acquisition/maintenance of cell polarity .

[0016] In one aspect, the invention relates to a method of screening a test compound that modulates development of secretory epithelial cells by evaluating parameters of development such as cell morphology of the cells seeded on the nanofiber structure; expression of differentiation markers such as ZO-1 ; production of organ product such as proteins found in saliva or pancreatic fluid or any combination of these

parameters.

[0017] In a related aspect, the invention is directed to an in vitro method for determining the effect of a test compound on the development of salivary gland cells.

[0018] In yet another related aspect, the invention is directed to an in vitro method for determining the effect of a test compound on the development of exocrine pancreas cells. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] Figure 1 contains a schematic showing the structure of an exocrine gland.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic comparing the effects of growing secretory epithelial cells on a flat versus a curved support.

[0021] Figure 3 shows the difference in cell-matrix adhesions that occur in salivary epithelial cells growing on different supports. (A) are confocal images of cells on different surfaces stained for nuclei (DAPI in blue), Fak, actin and Talin; (B) Western blots for p-Fak and Talin showing reduced Fak phosphorylation and talin expression on nanofibers vs. microfibers or flat surfaces; and (C) densitometric analysis of blots in (B).

[0022] Figure 4 shows that PLGA fibers promote cell clustering. (A) Confocal images of SIMS submandibular gland cell nuclei (DAPI staining) as an indicator of cell spreading; and (B) quantitative analysis of cell clustering using cell graph metrics shows an increasing trend of cell clustering on fiber surfaces as compared to flat glass and PLGA film surfaces.

[0023] Figure 5 shows that focal adhesion proteins are expressed at low levels and are diffusely localized in mature adult salivary glands.

[0024] Figure 6 shows an SEM of a substrate with multiple craters each about 70μηη in diameter on which nanofibers have been spun (left panel); and a close up view of one of the craters (right panel) showing that the nanofiber structure conforms to the shape of the crater.

[0025] Figure 7 shows a plot of aspect ratio, one measurement of curvature, to radius of the crater or depression. [0026] Figure 8 are photomicrographs providing two views of SIMS cells showing that they conform to the shape of the nanofiber-lined craters after 4 days of growth on the cell support of the invention.

[0027] Figure 9 show the results of viability of cells grown on a glass substrate, a PLGA film and PLGA nanofibers.

[0028] Figure 10 are micrographs of cells grown on the cell support of the invention showing smaller nuclear size in cells growing within the crater indicating less cell spreading and higher expression of a marker for tight junctions in 30 μιτι radius craters.

[0029] Figure 11 shows diffuse distribution of ZO-1 , a marker for tight junctions, in cells grown on a flat nanofiber structure.

[0030] Figure 12 shows the localization of ZO-1 in cells grown on a concave surface of a crater with a radius of 80 μιτι.

[0031] Figure 13 shows highly localized ZO-1 at the apical portion of cells grown on a concave surface of a crater with a radius of 30 μιτι.

[0032] Figure 14 is a composite of Figures 1 1 through 13 comparing the distribution of ZO-1 in cells grown on flat and concave surfaces.

[0033] Figure 15 shows the Z-height of cells grown on flat nanofiber structures and nanofiber structures disposed on craters with a radii of 30, 50 and 80 μιτι.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0034] All patents, applications, publications and other references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into the present application.

[0035] The current invention is an outgrowth of the inventors' observation that nanofibrous structures promote salivary gland cell attachment [5] and cellular organization mimicking the in vivo tissue architecture, demonstrating that substrate nanotopography promotes apical-basal polarity, salivary gland cell differentiation, and saliva secretion. Epithelial secretory cells such as salivary gland cells can be induced to polarize and differentiate on a nanofiber structure having a concave surface with the appropriate curvature. The engineering of a micropatterned nanofiber structure which can optimize cell attachment, cell organization, and cell differentiation represents a first step in the ultimate development of an artificial exocrine gland.

[0036] The present invention represents the first use of a curved nanofiber structure as a substrate for growth of epithelial secretory cells such as salivary gland cells. Polymer nanofibers, such as poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanofibers, support the attachment, proliferation, and survival of salivary gland epithelial cells. While a PLGA film supported cell attachment and cell growth, the arrangement of PLGA into nanofiber structures promoted the self-organization of cells on this material into cellular aggregates. Additionally, by imparting a curvature to the nanofiber structure, the nanofibers not only are able to facilitate the self-organization of cells into epithelial-like cell clusters or aggregates, but also permit the cells to achieve apical- basal polarity, formation of apically-restricted tight junctions, and expression of proteinacous components of saliva, such as alpha-amylase and salivary androgen binding protein A (SABPA). Although the PLGA nanofibers do not require surface modification to support cell attachment, surface modification and attachment of growth regulatory molecules may be desirable to further modulate acinar cell organization.

[0037] Furthermore, this study represents the first use of a systematic design of experiment (DOE) approach towards electrospinning of polymer nanofibers having a predictable and defined diameter for use as cellular scaffolds. This approach is more efficient than evaluating parameters individually because it allows factors to be evaluated in concert, but still allows the effect of each parameter to be individually quantified. In one embodiment of the invention, a transfer function generated for a PLGA-HFIP solution with 1 % NaCI was validated, as uniform fibers of predicted diameter were able to be electrospun using parameters suggested by the transfer function. The method can be used to reproducibly generate nanofibers composed of different polymers for generating the cell support of the invention.

Definitions

[0038] The term "development" refers to cell development, that is, the progression of cells from single cells or populations of single cells through various stages of cell growth, differentiation and morphogenesis that accompany tissue development as it is normally seen in vivo. These include organization of the cells, for example, into clusters, cell differentiation and morphogenesis, including acquisition of apical-basal polarity and columnar morphology. Metrics for the various stages of development of secretory epithelial cells into exocrine tissue are known to those of skill in the art and include, for example, assessment of morphological indicators such as cell shape and polarity, expression of protein markers of differentiation etc.

[0039] The term "concave" means curved like a segment of the interior of a circle or hollow sphere surface. A concave surface, therefore, is a surface which has the curvature of a part of a hollow sphere, for example, as a spherical depression in a substrate might. The curvature of a concave surface can be expressed as a "radius of curvature" or as an "aspect ratio."

[0040] The term "aspect ratio," as used herein, refers to a value obtained by taking the ratio of the depth (or height) of a concave structure, for example a crater or depression in an otherwise planar surface, to its radius. For example, a depression having a radius of 60 μιτι and a depth of 30 μιτι will have an aspect ratio of 0.5, whereas, a depression having a smaller radius, for example 30 μιτι, but the same depth of 30 μιτι will have an aspect ratio of 1 and greater curvature. [0041] Measurement of curvature is well known in the art. Curvature can be expressed in terms of a "radius of curvature," that is, the curvature is the reciprocal of the radius of an approximating circle that passes through the points on the curve. Since a line drawn across the widest part of the surface of a depression represents a small section of a circle, the radius of that circle describes the amount of curvature. A surface with a large radius of curvature has little curvature and one with a small radius is highly curved.

[0042] "Degree of curvature" is a measure of curvature of a circular arc, for example the arc defined by the curvature of the craters in the substrate. An n-degree curve turns forward direction by n degrees over some agreed-upon distance.

[0043] As used herein, the term "epithelial secretory cell" refers to a cell or cells that give rise to a tissue of one of the exocrine systems of the body, for example, exocrine glands such as the salivary glands, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, exocrine pancreas, lacrimal glands, mammary glands and many others. Epithelial secretory cells for use in the present invention, therefore, include, cells derived from an exocrine gland. The epithelial cells of the exocrine glands undergo differentiation and morphogenesis to form a functional structure for example as shown in Figure 1 . The secretory cells in the salivary gland are referred to as acinar cells.

[0044] Similarly, "exocrine tissue" is tissue derived from an exocrine gland, that is, an organ of the body that discharges secretions by means of a duct, which opens onto an epithelial surface. Exocrine glands include the salivary, sweat, sebaceous, lacrimal and mammary glands, as well as the exocrine pancreas. Exocrine development is characterized by branching morphogenesis, a process that allows the formation of a branched network of tubes, as exemplified by the excretory ducts of the pancreas and salivary glands. During branching morphogenesis, the epithelial cells organize into polarized monolayers with their apical pole facing the tube lumen. Exocrine glands can be formed by invagination of a sheet of secretory epithelial cells to form a primary bud that then undergoes a developmental process known as branching morphogenesis to form a branched, compound tubular structure. The blind ends of the tube constitute the secretory parts of the gland and may stay tubular or expand to form round sac-like structures called acini or alveoli. [0045] The terms "electrospinning" (commonly referred to as electrostatic spinning) or "electrospun," as used herein refers to any method where materials are streamed, sprayed, sputtered, dripped, or otherwise turned into a fibrous structure in the presence of an electric field. The electrospun material can be deposited from the direction of a charged container towards a grounded target, or from a grounded container in the direction of a charged target. In particular, the term "electrospinning" means a process in which fibers, usually with diameters in the range of, for example, 10 nm to 100 μιτι, are formed from a charged solution comprising at least one natural biological material, at least one synthetic polymer material, or a combination thereof by streaming the electrically charged solution through an opening or orifice towards a grounded target.

[0046] The term "nanofiber structure" refers to a three-dimensional ultrastructure of interconnected fibers of nanoscale diameter and having pores that may take any form, for example, a mesh, mat, matrix, scaffold or network of nanofibers, that supports cells and provides the appropriate environmental cues that signal cells to grow, differentiate, organize and develop into tissue characteristic of an exocrine organ or partial organ structure.

[0047] The novel cell support of the invention is made using methods known to those of skill in the art, including conventional lithographic processing techniques, and polymer electrospinning.

Preparation of micro-patterned substrate

[0048] In one embodiment, the cell support of the invention comprises a micro- patterned substrate having a concave surface upon which a nanofiber structure is disposed. The curvature of the concave surface of the substrate provides the curvature to the overlying nanofiber structure. The substrate comprises any biocompatible material that may be patterned using lithographic or similar techniques known to those of skill in the art.

[0049] In one embodiment, a micro-patterned "crater array" is created to form a substrate having multiple concave surfaces upon which to dispose the nanofiber structures. First a silicon master is created. Briefly, a SP-7 positive photoresist is spin-coated onto a silicon wafer that has been cleaned using solutions to remove organic residues, for example, a chemical mixture consisting of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide commonly known as piranha solution, and procedures well known to those in the art. For example, once the wafer has been spin-coated, it is baked at 90°C for about 5 min., exposed for about 360 seconds, developed and baked again at 150°C for about 5 min.

[0050] Once the cleanroom processing of the silicon master is complete,

polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is spin-coated onto the wafer at about 600rpm for about 1 min. The PDMS is cured for an appropriate period of time, for example, for about 2 hours at 60°C, after which the PDMS mold is peeled from the silicon master and cut into individual arrays and prepared to receive nanofibers.

[0051] The micro-patterned substrate can be made with depressions (or craters) of various dimensions and curvatures. Generally, a suitable curvature for promoting secretory epithelial cell morphogenesis including attainment of apical-basal polarity, apical localization of markers for tight junctions and columnar morphology is achieved with a depression (or crater) with a radius in the range of about 10-80 μιτι and aspect ratio between 0.5 and 1 ; in one embodiment, the radius of the depression is in the range of 20-50 μιτι; in one embodiment, the aspect ratio is in the range of about 0.8 to 1 .

[0052] There are many factors within the extracellular environment that influence cell behavior and function, one of which is the nanotopography of the surface material [9- 1 1]. The present inventors observed that nanotopography promotes formation of significantly different cell-surface attachments in salivary gland epithelial cells than do either flat surfaces or microfiber surfaces [5]. Cells seeded upon 2D glass or other non-natural hard surfaces typically form focal adhesions [12] at substrate attachment points, whereas most epithelial cells cultured on 3D matrices and in vivo do not produce similar focal adhesion structures [13]. Salivary cells seeded on PLGA nanofiber surfaces, for example, do not form focal adhesions to the same extent as cells seeded on non-natural, flat, hard substrates, such as glass or PLGA flat films (Fig. 4.) The pattern of focal adhesion proteins in cells seeded on nanofibers is similar to their appearance in adult acinar structures (see Figure 5.) In Figure 5, confocal images of adult SMG tissue fragments immunostained for focal adhesion proteins, active phosphorylated (p)-paxillin (green), or vinculin (cyan, and co-stained with actin (red) and DAPI (blue), show low levels of membrane localization of FA proteins in acinar units (white arrowheads). Actin (red) accumulates apically. Other actin-positive, non-acinar cells show strong staining of p-pax and vinculin. The pattern of focal adhesion proteins in adult acinar structures is similar to their appearance in salivary gland cells seeded on nanofibers. 63x magnified image scale bars =25μηη.

[0053] Additionally, the cells seeded on nanofibers self-organize into rounded clusters similar to cells in vivo and on 3D matrices mimicking the in vivo

environment, while those on flat or microfiber substrates are more spread [5] and have a lower clustering coefficient (Fig. 4) [14]. Generally, the more in vivo-like morphology of cells cultured on nanofibers supports the hypothesis that the nanofiber diameter influences cell differentiation.

Nanofibers

[0054] Electrospun nanofibers have been utilized in many biomedical applications as biomimetics of extracellular matrix proteins that promote self-organization of cells into 3D tissue constructs. To date, however, there have been few reports of nanofiber structures capable of supporting epithelial cell growth and differentiation.

[0055] Nanofiber features of the cell support of the invention are prepared using biocompatible materials. Natural polymers such as silk and laminin may be used. Other polymers suitable for use in preparing the cell support of the present invention include but are not limited to poly(£-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(£-caprolactone-co- ethyl ethylene phosphate) (PCLEEP), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(lactic acid-co- ε -caprolactone) (PLACL), and polydioxanone (PDO).

[0056] Exemplary non-degradable polymers could also be used, which include poly acrylamide (PAAm), poly acrylic acid (PAA), poly acrylonitrile (PAN), poly amide (Nylon) (PA, PA-4,6, PA-6,6), poly aniline (PANI), poly benzimidazole (PBI), poly bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) phosphazene, poly butadiene (PB), poly carbonate (PC), poly ether amide (PEA), poly ether imide (PEI), poly ether sulfone (PES), poly ethylene (PE), poly ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA), poly ethylene glycol (PEG), poly ethylene oxide (PEO), poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), poly

[0057] In some embodiments, "tunable" polymers, that is, polymers that incorporate functional groups which allow chemical and mechanical properties of the polymer to be modified, are used. Mechanical properties such as the rigidity/elasticity of the nanofiber structure may be modulated, for example, by crosslinking within the nanofiber structure, once the nanofibers have been disposed on the surface of the substrate. Polymers can also be modified to include bioactive molecules, for example, components of extracellular matrix (ECM), such as ECM proteins including but not limited to collagen, fibronectin, elastin, laminins and perlecan.

Formation of Nanofiber Structure

[0058] In one embodiment, electrospinning is used to prepare the nanofiber structure of the invention. The process of electrospinning is well known to those of skill in the art. It generally involves the creation of an electrical field at the surface of a liquid. The resulting electrical forces create a jet of liquid which carries electrical charge. The liquid jets may be attracted to other electrically charged objects at a suitable electrical potential. As the jet of liquid elongates and travels, it will harden and dry. The hardening and drying of the elongated jet of liquid may be caused by cooling of the liquid, i.e., where the liquid is normally a solid at room temperature; evaporation of a solvent, e.g., by dehydration, (physically induced hardening); or by a curing mechanism (chemically-induced hardening). The fibers produced are collected on a suitably located, oppositely charged target collector or substrate.

[0059] Typically, the electrospinning apparatus includes an electrodepositing mechanism and a target substrate. The electrodepositing mechanism includes at least one container to hold the solution that is to be electrospun. The container has at least one orifice or nozzle to allow the streaming of the solution from the container. If there are multiple containers, a plurality of nozzles may be used.

[0060] One or more pumps (e.g., a syringe pump) used in connection with the container can be used to control the flow of solution streaming from the container through the nozzle. The pump can be programmed to increase or decrease the flow at different points during electrospinning.

[0061] The electrospinning occurs due to the presence of a charge in either the orifices or the collector, while the other is grounded. In some embodiments, the nozzle or orifice is charged and the collector is grounded. Those of skill in the electrospinning arts will recognize that the nozzle and solution can be grounded and the collector can be electrically charged. The collector can also be specifically charged or grounded along a preselected pattern so that the solution streamed from the orifice is directed into specific directions. The electric field can be controlled by a microprocessor to create an electrospun matrix having a desired geometry. The collector and the nozzle or nozzles can be engineered to be movable with respect to each other thereby allowing additional control over the geometry of the electrospun matrix to be formed. The entire process can be controlled by a microprocessor that is programmed with specific parameters that will obtain a specific preselected electrospun matrix.

Optimization of Nanofiber Characteristics

[0062] Using a design of experiment approach, the system and process parameters of the electrospinning process can be optimized concurrently, and their effects on the diameter of the resulting fibers computed into a single model. A transfer function is used to reproducibly produce nanofibers of a defined diameter, which can then be confirmed by imaging with a scanning electron microscope (see Jean-Gilles et al. Novel Modeling Approach to Generate a Polymeric Nanofiber Scaffold for Salivary Gland Cells. Journal of Nanotechnology in Engineering and Medicine. 1 (3): 031008. doi: 10:1 1 15/1 .4001744)

Formation of Curved Nanofiber Structures

[0063] In one embodiment, a substrate having a concave surface upon which the nanofibers are to be disposed takes the form of a micro-patterned crater array. The arrays are prepared as discussed above, for example by spincoating

polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) onto a silicon master made using standard lithography processing techniques. The PDMS is allowed to cure and then the mold is peeled from the silicon master.

[0064] The nanofibers are then electrospun or otherwise generated from a polymer solution, for example, PLGA, in an appropriate solvent, to generate randomly- oriented nanofibers having a diameter in the range of about 75 nm to about 1500 nm disposed over the PDMS features; in one embodiment, nanofibers will have a diameter in the range of about 100-1000 nm, in another embodiment, nanofibers will have a diameter in the range of 150-250 nm. The nanofiber structure has an appropriate thickness when it completely covers the substrate, so as to isolate any cells cultured on the nanofibers from any effects of the substrate material itself.

[0065] After the nanofibers have been deposited on the substrate, the nanofiber features are soaked in a physiologically appropriate media or buffer solution for a period of time sufficient to ensure that the nanofiber structure has conformed to the curvature of the craters in the substrate, from a few hours to several days. In one embodiment, nanofiber structures are soaked for about 1 -5 days.

[0066] Nanofibers (average diameter -250 nm) were imaged using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and pore size measurements were obtained using the microscope's integrated annotation software. Distances between fibers on the same Z-plane were measured across samples, and average pore sizes were estimated. Using 20 measurements, an average pore size of 2.51 ± 0.52 μιτι was obtained, which is small enough so that cells, which are typically between 5 and 10 m in size, will not fall below the top layer of fibers.

[0067] The thickness, or height in the Z-direction, of nanofibers (average diameter -250 nm) was measured using cross-sectional SEM. Ten samples were imaged, and the thicknesses of the fiber mats were determined using the SEM's integrated annotation software. An average value of 1 .16 ± 0.31 μιτι was obtained, which is more than enough distance so that the cells growing on top of the surface do not contact the substrate beneath.

[0068] Secretory epithelial cells, either primary cells obtained from an appropriate source or a non-transformed epithelial cell line (for example, a cell line that, although immortalized, retains the differentiated properties of a polarized ductal epithelial cell) are then cultured and seeded on the cell support. Examples of primary cells for culture on the cell support of the invention include but are not limited to human or other mammalian secretory epithelial cells, for example, salivary gland epithelial cells, lacrimal gland epithelial cells, exocrine pancreas epithelial cells, sweat gland epithelial cells and the like. Primary embryonic salivary gland cells can be obtained as described in Wei, et al 2007.

[0069] Established cell lines which are suitable for growth and development on the cell support of the present invention include but are not limited to: SIMS (an immortalized submandibular salivary gland epithelial cell line derived from a 22 day old mouse; see Laoide et al., Immortalised mouse submandibular epithelial cell lines retain polarized structural and functional properties. Journal of Cell Science

109:2789-2800 1996; incorporated by reference), HSG cells (an immortalized human salivary gland cell line) sca9 (a mouse salivary gland tumor cell line), pard O (an immortalized rat parotid salivary gland acinar cell line), smgc10 (an immortalized rat submandibular gland cell line) cells, and HSG (a neoplastic salivary gland epithelial ductal cell line). [0070] SCA9 cells are cultured tumor cells of urine submandibular gland origin and suitable for use in conjunction with the present invention as are ParCI O cells, an SV40 immortalized rat parotid acinar cell line, SMGC10, an SV40 immortalized rat submandibular acinar cell line and HSG, a neoplastic epithelial duct cell line established from an irradiated human salivary gland, (see Eur J Oral Sci. 2000 Feb;108(1):54-8. Cultured tumor cells of murine submandibular gland origin: a model to investigate pHi regulation of salivary cells. Trzaskawka E, Vigo J, Egea JC, Goldsmith MC. Salmon JM. De Periere DD; Quissell, D. O., K. A. Barzen, R. S.

Redman, J. M. Camden, and J. T. Turner. Development and characterization of SV40 immortalized rat parotid acinar cell lines. In Vitro Cell. Develop. Biol. 34: 58-67, 1998; Quissell, D. O., K. B. Barzen, D. C. Gruenert, R. S. Redman, J. M. Camden, and J. T. Turner. Development and characterization of SV40 immortalized rat submandibular acinar cell lines. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol. 33: 164-173, 1997;

Shirasuna, K.. Sato, M., and Miyazaki, T. A neoplastic epithelial duct cell line established from an irradiated human salivary gland. Cancer (Phila.), 48:745-752, 1981 .

[0071] In one embodiment, primary submandibular cells or other secretory epithelial cells are prepared using a tissue explant culture method, as previously described for mouse cells, Wei, 2007 et al. human cells (for example, see Joraku et al., In-vitro reconstitution of three-dimensial human salivary gland tissue structures.

Differentiation. 2007; Joraku et al., Tissue engineering of functional salivary gland tissue. Laryngoscope. 2005, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference). Briefly, normal human or mammalian exocrine gland tissue samples are obtained and cut into 1 mm-sized fragments, plated on culture dishes, and placed in serum-free keratinocyte growth medium containing 5 ng/ml epidermal growth factor (EGF) and 50 g/ml bovine pituitary extract (BPE). The cells are incubated and grown in a humidified atmosphere chamber containing 5% CO₂ and maintained at 37°C. Monolayer cells are trypsinized, and single-cell suspensions prepared for seeding onto a cell support of the invention.

[0072] Other methods for the culture of human salivary gland and other endoderm- derived epithelial tissues, such as lung and pancreas are known to those of skill in the art (see, e.g., Tran et al., 2005, Mondrinos et al., 2006 and Harris and Coleman, 1987).

[0073] In an alternate embodiment, tissue is completely dissociated rather than cut into pieces, and other media supplements, such as insulin, transferring, and selenium, which are used for culture of many other primary cells are included in the growth medium.

[0074] Cells are evaluated for viability, and a suspension of viable cells in an appropriate cell culture medium is prepared for seeding onto the cell support. Cells are seeded at a density in the range of about 1 ,000 to 100,000 cells per well of a tissue culture plate into which a cell support of the invention has been placed; in one embodiment, cells are seeded at a density in the range of about 10,000 to 50,000 cells per well and cultured for 24 hours or more prior to evaluation of differentiation marker expression using various assays, such as immunostaining.

[0075] Cells are monitored for progress of differentiation and morphogenesis using appropriate differentiation markers and conventional microscopic techniques, including confocal, and scanning electron microscopy. For high throughput screening, laser scanning confocal microscopy may be used. Cells are evaluated for, inter alia, development of apical-basal polarity and columnar morphology and apical localization of a marker for tight junctions which are an apical cell-cell adhesion structure that is required for formation in of a polarized cell monolayer. At an appropriate stage of development, cells may be used for high throughput screening or other testing.

[0076] The expression of various developmental markers is determined by immunostaining of cultured cells or tissues in accordance with methodology know to those of skill in the art. In an embodiment in which murine epithelial cells have been cultured on the cell support, for example, immunostaining is performed as previously described (Daley et al. 2009; Larsen et al. 2003). Briefly, crater arrays containing the cell support(s) of the invention are incubated in blocking solution (20% donkey serum (Jackson ImmunoResearch) containing Mouse on Mouse (M.O.M.) blocking reagent (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA, USA) in 1 xPBS containing 0.05% Tween 20 (PBS-T)). Primary antibodies are diluted in an antibody diluent consisting of 10% bovine serum albumin (BSA, Sigma-Aldrich Corp., St. Louis, MO, USA) in

phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (PBSA) and incubated overnight at 4°C. Cell preps are washed 4x10 min in 1xPBS-T after each antibody incubation step. Cyanine dye- conjugated AffiniPure F(ab')₂ fragment secondary antibodies are diluted 1 :100 in diluent and incubated with the tissue overnight at 4°C. Following the final wash sequence constructs are mounted using glass coverslips with FLUORO-GEL Gel- Mount (Electron Microscopy Sciences) containing 1 mg/mL p-phenylene-diamine (PPD) antifade reagent. Constructs are imaged on a confocal microscope. All images are captured using identical settings. Negative controls include incubations with secondary antibody only.

[0077] The present invention also provides a device and method for screening compounds that modulate secretory epithelial cell development. The device comprises a substrate having a concave surface, a nanofiber structure disposed over the concave surface of the substrate and secretory epithelial cells seeded on the nanofiber structure of the device. The method comprises providing a device comprising a substrate having a concave surface and a nanofiber structure disposed over the concave surface of the substrate, seeding secretory eptithelial cells on the nanofiber structure of said cell support; incubating said cell support and cells under conditions otherwise sufficient for proliferation and/or differentiation to occur in the presence and absence of the compound to be tested; monitoring development of cells in the presence of the compound and monitoring development of cells in the absence of the compound and comparing the development of cells grown in the presence of the compound with the development of cells grown in the absence of the compound to determine the effect of the test compounds on development, proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis.

[0078] Identification of a test compound that modulates development of secretory epithelial cells is made by evaluating various parameters of development of the cells seeded on the cell support; parameters to be evaluated include cell morphology of the cells seeded on the nanofiber structure; expression of differentiation markers such as ZO-1 ; production of organ product such as proteins found in saliva or pancreatic fluid or any combination of these parameters.

[0079] It should be appreciated that the invention should not be construed to be limited to the examples that are now described; rather, the invention should be construed to include any and all applications provided herein and all equivalent variations within the skill of the ordinary artisan.

EXAMPLES

Example 1-Electrospinning of Polylactic-co-glycolic acid Nanofiber Structures

[0080] Poly(D-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA), with a lactic to glycolic acid ratio of 85:15 and a molecular weight of 95,000 Da, was purchased from Birmingham Polymers (Pelham, AL). Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), dimethylformamide (DMF), sodium chloride (NaCI), and magnesium sulfate (MgSO ) were purchased from Sigma- Aldrich USA (St. Louis, MO). An automatic syringe pump was purchased from New Era Pump Systems Inc. (Wantagh, NY). 3 mi syringes were purchased from Becton, Dickinson and Company (Franklin Lakes, NJ). Needles with an inner diameter of 0.25, 0.41 and 0.51 mm were purchased from EFD Inc. (East Providence, Rl).

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing was purchased from VWR International (West Chester, Pennsylvania). All chemicals were used as supplied without further purification.

Electrospinning Setup

[0081] To electrospin a nonwoven mat of nano- and micro-scale fibers, PLGA was dissolved in HFIP or DMF and loaded into a 3 ml syringe. The syringe was loaded into an automatic syringe pump, and PTFE tubing was used to shuttle the polymeric solution from the syringe to a metal needle tip. The needle was suspended vertically over a grounded aluminum collector plate at a fixed distance, and a voltage supply was wired to the metal needle with an alligator clip. The distance between the needle tip and the collector is labeled as the "spinneret-to-collector" distance in all of the figures and tables.

PLGA-DMF Fibers

[0082] PLGA was dissolved in Λ/,/V-dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent at

concentrations ranging from 30-35% (w/v) and stirred in a closed container for 18 hours at room temperature to create a homogenous solution, as reported previously [36]. The pumping rate for PLGA-DMF experiments was between 6 and 8.5 μΙ min^"1 and the needle inner diameter was 0.41 mm. A positive DC potential ranging from 15 to 20 kV was applied at a spinneret-to-collector distance ranging from 15 to 20 cm.

PLGA-HFIP Fibers

[0083] Next PLGA was dissolved in 1 ,1 ,1 ,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) solvent at concentrations ranging from 5 to 18% (w/v), and stirred in a closed container for 18 hours at room temperature. The pumping rate for PLGA-HFIP experiments was between 3 and 25 μΙ min^"1 and the needle inner diameter ranged from 0.25 to 0.51 mm. The electric potential difference applied ranged from 8 to 25 kV and the distances between the needle tip and the collector ranged from 5 to 15 cm. To eliminate HFIP-induced damage to the tube and connectors, metal luer connectors and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing were used.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Characterization of Nanofibers

[0084] Fiber diameter and general morphology were characterized using a 1550 field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) (Leo Electron Microscopy Ltd, Cambridge, UK; Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany). Samples were mounted on 1 cm² stubs using carbon tape and were sputter-coated with ~5nm gold-palladium to avoid charging the sample. Images were collected at a working distance of 3 mm and with an acceleration gun voltage of 2 kV. Using the incorporated digital annotation software, diameter measurements (15 per sample) were acquired, and arithmetic means and standard deviations were calculated for all fibers. Statistical Analyses and Surface Plots

[0085] All statistical analyses were performed using the statistical software package MINITAB. Design of Experiment (DOE) analyses were performed using a response surface design with non-coded values. The data was analyzed by mean of regression analysis. The R-squared values were greater than 0.95. Within this dataset, none of the system and process parameters evaluated were found to be confounded. Factors with a p-value greater than 0.05 were excluded. The exclusion of factors that failed the null hypothesis yielded the transfer functions, which were further optimized using MINITAB's optimizer tool and Microsoft Excel^®' solver tool.

Example 2 - Cell Culture, Viability Assays and SEM Characterization of Cells on Nanofibers

[0086] SIMS, an immortalized submandibular salivary gland epithelial cell line derived from a 22 day old mouse [20, 24], was cultured in complete cell media, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM), 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 100 U/ml penicillin-streptomycin, as previously described (all Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA).

[0087] PLGA fibers were electrospun onto 12 mm glass coverslips coated with Vectabond (Vector Laboratories), as per manufacturer's protocols, and placed into individual wells in a 24-well tissue culture plate. Vectabond-coated glass coverslips without fibers and flat PLGA polymer-coated glass coverslips were used as flat surface and material controls, respectively. Approximately 50 μΙ of 3% (w/v) PLGA in HFIP was added to each coverslip and air-dried for 24 hrs at room temperature to create the flat PLGA coatings. All surfaces were sterilized by UV irradiation for at least 1 hr, pre-soaked in sterile phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 48 hrs, followed by 1 hr in complete cell media before cell culture.

[0088] For trypan blue viability and cell proliferation assays, SIMS cells (10,000 cells/well) were seeded in complete media. At the indicated intervals, coverslips were removed, transferred to fresh plates, prior to cells being detached by mild trypsinization, treated with trypan blue, and manually counted using a hemocytometer. For fluorescent live-dead assays (Invitrogen), SIMS cells were seeded (10,000 cells/well) on different surfaces as indicated and cultured for 24hrs in complete media. Cells were washed in PBS to remove media and incubated with a mixture of calcein (1 μΜ), to detect live cells and ethidium homodimer-1 (2μΜ) to label dead cells for 20 mins. Images were obtained using an inverted fluorescent microscope (CellObserver Z1 , Zeiss, Jena, Germany) with a 20X objective at excitation wavelengths of 488 nm (to detect the fluorescent biproduct of calcein metabolism) and 543 nm (to detect ethidium).

[0089] For SEM, approximately 3 x 10⁴ cells/well were seeded onto coated or non- coated 12 mm coverslips and allowed to adhere overnight to different surfaces before fixing and processing for SEM. Briefly, cells were fixed with 3%

glutaraldehyde solution in 0.1 M phosphate buffer containing 0.1 M sucrose for 2 hrs at room temperature. The samples were then rinsed three times in PBS, dehydrated in a graded ethanol series and slowly infiltrated with hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) for drying. SEM characterization of the samples was done using an FEI Nova NanoSEM 600 field emission scanning electron microscope (FEI Company,

Hillsboro, Oregon). Uncoated samples were mounted on 1 cm² stubs using carbon tape and imaged in low vacuum mode with water vapor introduced into the specimen chamber to minimize sample charging. An extraction voltage of 4 kV and a working distance of 5 mm was used for imaging.

[0090] Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) was selected as an alternate solvent due to its low boiling point of 58°C, and dielectric constant of 16.70 at 20°C, which is nearly half of that of DMF. Due to the drastic difference in boiling point, a much lower potential can be used to electrospin the nanofibers using HFIP as a solvent as compared to fibers produced when using DMF as a solvent[42]. When fibers were electrospun from a PLGA-HFIP solution, a positive linear relationship was observed, as reported in previous studies [40]. Although beading was reduced with increased PLGA concentration, beading was still prevalent in all samples regardless of solution concentration (Fig. 3a, b, c). To generate a reliable transfer function for

electrospinning PLGA nanofibers of uniform morphology, additional changes to the properties of the solution were required.

[0091] Previous reports have indicated that the presence of salts can eliminate beading from electrospun nanofibers [36]. We evaluated sodium chloride (NaCI) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄), at 1 wt% in each solution, for their effect on nanofiber uniformity when HFIP was used as a solvent. Both salts reduced the total number of beads observed; however NaCI eliminated beads much more effectively than

MgSO₄. The addition of NaCI to an 8.5 wt% solution yielded fiber diameters that ranged from an average of 1 10 nm to 278 nm, whereas addition of MgSO₄ yielded fibers whose average diameters ranged from 315 nm to 379 nm. Additionally, the diameter distribution is significantly less with NaCI than it is with MgSO under specific conditions. These effects were also observed where addition of NaCI resulted in fibers of a more consistent diameter than those generated in the presence of MgSO . Since NaCI expanded the range over which bead-free nanofibers were produced, all subsequent fibers were prepared using 1 wt% NaCI in HFIP solvent, and the subsequent transfer function generated by Minitab for HFIP used DOE experimental runs with 1 % NaCI in solution.

[0092] Using HFIP and 1 wt% NaCI, a DOE-based approach was again used to design a series of experiments to assess the effects of varying both system and process parameters on nanofiber diameter. A response surface regression was performed to compare the effects of PLGA concentration, the potential, the feeding rate and the spinneret-to-collector distance on the average diameter of the fibers. Another process parameter, the diameter of the needle tip, was controlled and kept constant at 0.51 mm. The analysis was performed using non-coded units and the regression coefficients were evaluated. As previously observed with DMF, the concentration has the strongest positive correlation with the average diameter of the fibers. An increase in the potential and the spinneret-to-collector distance negatively affected the diameter of the fibers, while the feeding rate showed the weakest correlation to the average diameter of the fibers. [0093] Since the PLGA concentration had the strongest positive effect on the average diameter of the fibers, its effect in concert with the other parameters

(potential, spinneret-to-collector distance, feeding rate) was evaluated. In general, as the concentration of PLGA increased along with the other parameters, the diameter of the fibers appears increased. However, at low PLGA concentrations, the other process parameters have a stronger influence than at high PLGA

concentrations. When the value of the process parameters are increased above a certain threshold, the concentration of the PLGA must be increased significantly to overcome the irregularity in the diameter of the fibers. This understanding allows for the modulation of both parameters in parallel in order to change the diameter of the fibers without the need for PLGA concentrations as high as those used with DMF as the solvent.

[0094] To facilitate synthesis of nanofibers of a defined diameter, we performed a regression analysis of these data to produce a transfer function for the average diameter of the nanofibers electrospun in HFIP: dave= 161 Xi - 3O8X2 + O.IX3 - 7I .2X4 - 3078

Equation 1 gives the transfer function of the average diameter (d_ave) of fibers electrospun from a solution of PLGA in HFIP and 1 % NaCI. The Independent variables are PLGA concentration (X-i), the potential (X₂), the feeding rate (X₃), and the spinneret-to-collector distance (X4).

Validation of the transfer function for PLGA-HFIP solution with 1 % NaCI

[0095] To validate the transfer function, two target fiber diameters were selected: 250 nm (nanofibers) and 1200 nm (microfibers), and the equation was solved for these two values to provide settings for each of the process and systems parameters. We set standard deviations of 50 nm and 200 nm as acceptable for each fiber diameter, respectively. Using the parameters specified by the transfer function, we generated nanofibers by electrospinning and measured the diameters of the resulting fibers using SEM. We obtained beadless nanofibers of an average diameter of 247.2 nm and 1276.5 nm, under the two conditions, which fell within the acceptable limits we set for thin and thick fibers, respectively. These data validate the applicability and effectiveness of the transfer function for producing uniform PLGA nanofibers of a defined diameter.

3.6. Utility of the transfer function in the preparation of specified PLGA nanofiber diameter for use as salivary gland epithelial cell scaffold

[0096] To assess the suitability of the 250 nm nanofibers as a substrate for salivary gland cells, we used the SIMS mouse submandibular gland cell line as a model cell. To determine if the salivary gland cells could attach to the nanofibers produced during this study, we compared the overall viability and morphology of SIMS salivary gland epithelial cells seeded on glass (a typical substrate for in vitro cell culture) and a PLGA film (a material control) to those seeded on the PLGA nanofibers (247.2 nm mean diameter). To examine cell proliferative ability, SIMS cells were cultured on flat glass, flat PLGA film, or PLGA nanofibers for up to 48 hrs, and cells were counted at 24 hr intervals. Cells proliferated comparably on all three substrates, and perhaps slightly better on PLGA nanofibers than on glass or PLGA films (Fig. 9), indicating that the cells could at least proliferate as well on nanofibers as on flat controls. To account for possible differences in cell viability on the different surfaces, trypan blue staining was used in cell counting experiments to exclude non-viable cells, but significant differences in cell viability on the different substrates were not apparent (Fig. 9b). As an additional confirmation of cell viability, the cells were exposed to calcein AM, which is metabolized to produce a fluorescent green metabolite in live cells, and ethidium homodimer-1 , which is non-specifically absorbed only by dead cells and fluoresces red. Few ethidium-positive cells were detected under any condition, and yet almost all cells fluoresced green, indicative of a viable cell population (Fig. 9c).

[0097] While the cells seeded upon glass or flat PLGA surfaces generally grew as single dispersed cells, SIMS cells seeded upon the PLGA nanofibers self-organized into cellular aggregates suggestive of an acinar cell cluster (Fig. 9c). To

characterize cell aggregate morphology further, SIMS cells were again seeded on both flat surfaces and on the nanofibers, grown for 18 hrs, fixed, and imaged using scanning electron microscopy SEM (Fig. 9d). The cells seeded on the flat surfaces flattened and spread significantly, characteristic of cells in a 2D monolayer, while the SIMS cells grown on nanofibers attached to the fibers and assumed a more three- dimensional, rounded morphology, more typical of salivary gland cells in vivo. The cells did not migrate between the nanofibers, but instead remained on top of the nanofiber scaffold. These data indicate the nanofibers facilitate self-organization of salivary gland cells into a more desirable 3D morphology than is observed on flat substrates.

Cell behavior when grown on curved nanofiber structure

[0098] To assess the suitability of the 250 nm nanofibers as a substrate for salivary gland cells, SIMS, a mouse submandibular gland cell line were used as a model cell. To determine if the salivary gland cells could attach to the nanofibers produced during this study, the overall viability and morphology of SIMS salivary gland epithelial cells seeded on glass (a typical substrate for in vitro cell culture) and a PLGA film (a material control) were compared to those seeded on the PLGA nanofibers (247.2 nm mean diameter). To examine cell proliferative ability, SIMS cells were cultured on flat glass, flat PLGA film, or PLGA nanofibers for up to 48 hrs, and cells were counted at 24 hr intervals. Cells proliferated comparably on all three substrates, and perhaps slightly better on PLGA nanofibers than on glass or PLGA films (Fig. 9a), indicating that the cells could at least proliferate as well on nanofibers as on flat controls. To account for possible differences in cell viability on the different surfaces, trypan blue staining was used in cell counting experiments to exclude nonviable cells, but significant differences in cell viability on the different substrates were not apparent (Fig. 9b). As an additional confirmation of cell viability, the cells were exposed to calcein AM, which is metabolized to produce a fluorescent green metabolite in live cells, and ethidium homodimer-1 , which is non-specifically absorbed only by dead cells and fluoresces red. Few ethidium-positive cells were detected under any condition, and yet almost all cells fluoresced green, indicative of a viable cell population (Fig. 9c).

[0099] While the cells seeded upon glass or flat PLGA surfaces generally grew as single dispersed cells, SIMS cells seeded upon the PLGA nanofibers self-organized into cellular aggregates suggestive of an acinar cell cluster (Fig. 9c). To

characterize cell aggregate morphology further, SIMS cells were again seeded on both flat surfaces and on the nanofibers, grown for 18 hrs, fixed, and imaged using scanning electron microscopy SEM (Fig. 9d). The cells seeded on the flat surfaces flattened and spread significantly, characteristic of cells in a 2D monolayer, while the SIMS cells grown on nanofibers attached to the fibers and assumed a more three- dimensional, rounded morphology, more typical of salivary gland cells in vivo. The cells did not migrate between the nanofibers, but instead remained on top of the nanofiber scaffold. This indicates that the nanofiber structure facilitates self- organization of salivary gland cells into a more desirable 3D morphology than is observed on flat substrates.

[00100] Next, cells were grown on cell supports in which the substrate was flat or patterned with craters having a radius of 30 μιτι, or 80 μιτι (and a depth of about 30 μιτι). The presence and localization of various markers were determined after 96 hours, including ZO-1 , a marker for the presence of tight junctions. Higher total ZO-1 expression could be seen in cells in the craters (Figures 12 and 13) as compared to cells on the flat surface outside of the crater circumference (Figure 1 1 ). Additionally, the cells growing in the craters exhibited smaller nuclear size suggesting less cell spreading (Figure 10).

[00101] When the cells growing in the crater were viewed from a cross- sectional perspective, ZO-1 appeared as "dots" of stain located at the apical side of the cells in the craters, indicating appropriate apical ZO-1 localization (Figure 13). As crater size increased (and curvature decreased), ZO-1 staining became more diffuse in the larger craters (Figure 12), suggesting that, even though fairly well expressed, ZO-1 was no longer localized to the apical portion of the cells, suggesting a lack of mature tight junctions. In comparison, in cells grown on a flat nanofiber control (Figure 1 1 ), ZO-1 staining extends all the way to the basal side of the cells, indicating diffuse localization.

[00101] Cell layer Z-height was evaluated for cells grown on surfaces with varying curvature. Figure 14 shows that the Z-height of the cell layer grown on cells with greater curvature was greater than cells grown on flat surfaces or surfaces with less curvature. As shown in Figure 15, SIMS Z-height increased with decreasing crater radius.

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Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1 . A cell support comprising a substrate having a concave surface and a nanofiber structure.

2. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber structure is disposed upon said concave surface of said substrate.

3. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber structure comprises an

electrospun nanofiber.

4. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber structure is removably

attached to said substrate.

5. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein said concave surface has an aspect ratio in the range of about 0.5 to about 1 .

6. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein said concave surface has an aspect ratio in the range of about 0.8 to about 1 .

7. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber has a diameter in the range of about 75 nm to about 1500 nm.

8. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber has a diameter in the range of about 100 nm to about 500 nm.

9. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein said nanofiber has a diameter in the range of about 150 nm to about 250 nm.

10. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber comprises a natural polymer selected from the group consisting of silk and laminin.

1 1 . The cell support of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber comprises a biodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting poly(£-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(£- caprolactone-co-ethyl ethylene phosphate) (PCLEEP), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(lactic acid-co- ε -caprolactone)

(PLACL), and polydioxanone (PDO).

12. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber comprises PLGA.

13. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber comprises a nonbiodegradable polymer selected from the group consisting of: poly acrylamide (PAAm), poly acrylic acid (PAA), poly acrylonitrile (PAN), poly amide (Nylon) (PA, PA-4,6, PA-6,6), poly aniline (PANI), poly benzimidazole (PBI), poly bis(2,2,2- trifluoroethoxy) phosphazene, poly butadiene (PB), poly carbonate (PC), poly ether amide (PEA), poly ether imide (PEI), poly ether sulfone (PES), poly ethylene (PE), poly ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA), poly ethylene glycol (PEG), poly ethylene oxide (PEO), poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), poly

ferrocenyldimethylsilane (PFDMS), poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), poly 4-methyl-1 -pentene (TpX), poly methyl methacrylate (pMMA), poly p- phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA), poly propylene (PP), poly pyrrole (PPY), poly styrene (PS), polybisphenol-A sulfone (PSF), poly sulfonated styrene (PSS), Styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SBS), poly urethane (PU), poly tetrafluoro ethylene (PTFE), poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), poly vinyl carbazole, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), poly vinyl phenol (PVP), poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and poly vinylidene difluoride (PVDF).

14. The cell support of claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber structure further comprises a biologically active molecule covalently linked to said nanofiber.

15. The cell support of claim 14, wherein said biologically active molecule is selected from the group consisting of fibronectin, collagen, elastin, laminin and perlacan.

16. A method for making a cell support, the method comprising:

a. providing a substrate having a concave surface;

b. disposing a polymer nanofiber over said concave surface to form a nanofiber structure that conforms to the concave surface of the substrate.

17. The method of claim 6, wherein the nanofiber structure comprises a polymer seclected from the group consisting of silk, laminin, poly(£-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(£-caprolactone-co-ethyl ethylene phosphate) (PCLEEP), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(lactic acid-co- ε -caprolactone) (PLACL), and polydioxanone (PDO) poly acrylamide (PAAm), poly acrylic acid (PAA), poly acrylonitrile (PAN), poly amide (Nylon) (PA, PA-4,6, PA-6,6), poly aniline (PAN I), poly benzimidazole (PBI), poly bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) phosphazene, poly butadiene (PB), poly carbonate (PC), poly ether amide (PEA), poly ether imide (PEI), poly ether sulfone (PES), poly ethylene (PE), poly ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA), poly ethylene glycol (PEG), poly ethylene oxide (PEO), poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), poly ferrocenyldimethylsilane (PFDMS), poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), poly 4-methyl-1 -pentene (TpX), poly methyl methacrylate (pMMA), poly p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA), poly propylene (PP), poly pyrrole (PPY), poly styrene (PS),

polybisphenol-A sulfone (PSF), poly sulfonated styrene (PSS), Styrene- butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer (SBS), poly urethane (PU), poly tetrafluoro ethylene (PTFE), poly vinyl alcohol (PVA), poly vinyl carbazole, poly vinyl chloride (PVC), poly vinyl phenol (PVP), poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and poly vinylidene difluoride (PVDF).

18. The method of claim 6, wherein the nanofiber comprises PLGA.

19. A method for promoting differentiation and morphogenesis of secretory epithelial cells ex vivo, the method comprising:

a. providing a cell support having a concave surface and comprising a nanofiber structure;

b. seeding said secretory epithelial cells on the concave surface of said cell support;

c. incubating said cell support and cells under conditions sufficient for proliferation, differentiation and morphogenesis of said cells into acini.

20. A device for high throughput screening of agents that modulate development of secretory epithelial cells, the device comprising:

a. a cell support comprising a substrate having a concave surface and a nanofiber structure; and

b. secretory epithelial cells on the surface of the nanofiber structure.

21 . The device of claim 20, wherein the nanofiber structure comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of silk, laminin, poly(£-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(£-caprolactone-co-ethyl ethylene phosphate) (PCLEEP), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(lactic acid-co- ε -caprolactone) (PLACL), and polydioxanone (PDO) poly acrylamide (PAAm), poly acrylic acid (PAA), poly acrylonitrile (PAN), poly amide (Nylon) (PA, PA-4,6, PA-6,6), poly aniline (PAN I), poly benzimidazole (PBI), poly bis(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) phosphazene, poly butadiene (PB), poly carbonate (PC), poly ether amide (PEA), poly ether imide (PEI), poly ether sulfone (PES), poly ethylene (PE), poly ethylene-co-vinyl acetate (PEVA), poly ethylene glycol (PEG), poly ethylene oxide (PEO), poly ethylene terephthalate (PET), poly ferrocenyldimethylsilane (PFDMS), poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), poly 4-methyl-1 -pentene (TpX), poly methyl methacrylate (pMMA), poly p-phenylene terephthalamide (PPTA), poly propylene (PP), poly pyrrole (PPY), poly styrene (PS),

22. A method for screening a compound that modulates development of secretory epithelial cells, the method comprising:

a. providing a cell support comprising a substrate having a concave

surface and a nanofiber structure;

b. seeding secretory epithelial cells on the nanofiber structure; c. incubating said cells and said support under conditions sufficient for growth, differentiation and morphogenesis of said cells in the absence and presence of the compound to be tested;

d. monitoring development of said cells grown in the presence of said compound and monitoring development of the cells grown in the absence of said compound; and

e. comparing the development of the cells grown in the presence of said compound and cells grown in the absence of said compound.

23. The method of claim 24, wherein said monitoring step comprises

a. evaluating cell morphology;

b. evaluating expression of differentiation markers;

c. detection of organ product; or

d. any combination of a., b. and c.

24. The method of claim 24, wherein the cells are salivary gland cells.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the cells are pancreatic cells.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the differentiation marker is ZO-1 .

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the organ product is a protein found in saliva.

28. The method of claim 29, wherein the protein found in saliva is a-amylase.

29. The method of claim 29, wherein the protein found in saliva is salivary amylase- binding protein A (SABPA).