Three-dimensional wet electrospun scaffold system for the differentiation of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells to islet-like clusters

Stem cell-derived islet-like clusters (ILCs) are an alternative source of pancreatic beta cells for the treatment of diabetic mellitus. An ideal 3D culture platform for the generation of ILCs of desired cluster size is a challenge due to the clustering of islet cells in the 2D culture systems. The islet cells cultured in 2D conditions produce clusters of large size, which are less efficient in terms of insulin secretion and viability. In this study, we report that ILCs formed on a PCL-based wet electrospun fibrous scaffold with larger pore size produced clusters of the desired size, compared to that cultured on a conventional electrospun sheet. The collagen functionalization on this wet electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold showed enhanced insulin secretion and cell viability compared to the non-functionalized or conventionally electrospun PCL scaffold. The collagen-coated wet electrospun 3D scaffold produced ILCs of cluster diameter 70 ± 20 μm and the conventionally electrospun PCL sheet produced larger ILC clusters of diameter 300 ± 10 μm. Hence the results indicate the collagen-functionalized wet electrospun scaffold system could be a potential scaffold for islet tissue engineering.