Cell culture systems for pancreatic research

Two types of cell line were used to evaluate responses on electrospun polymers. The ability of Min6 (a nutrient responsive mouse insulinoma cell-line) and nes2y (a human β-cell progenitor line) cells to proliferate on an electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffold and collagen-coated PCL scaffold was investigated. As a positive control, these cells were also grown on collagen-coated coverslips. Qualitative results were obtained taking images of the cells and scaffold using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) Quantitative results were obtained using a biochemical assay to monitor numbers of nes2y and Min6 cells when cultured on the different scaffolds for 48 hours. The SEM data indicated that both Min6 and nes2y were able to adhere to the uncoated PCL and collagen-coated PCL scaffolds. Collagen coating the PCL improved the numbers of Min6 cells after 48 hours by almost two fold. Whereas untreated PCL was the better surface for the Nes2y cell line, in comparison collagen coating of PCL fibres and coverslips resulted in a reduced cell number. We have demonstrated that both Min6 and nes2y cell lines were able to grow and proliferate on PCL-based electrospun scaffolds. Electrospinning of polymers, with or without extracellular matrix proteins, therefore offers a suitable technology for producing scaffolds for tissue engineering. © 2011 Woodhead Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.