Aligned nanofibers direct human dermal fibroblasts to tenogenic phenotype in vitro and enhance tendon regeneration in vivo

To explore the effect of aligned nanofibers on inducing tenogenic phenotype of human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) in vitro and on inducing de novo tendon regeneration in vivo. Random and aligned nanofibers were electrospun, seeded with hDFs and cultured in vitro, and in vivo implanted without cell seeding to bridge segmental defect of rat Achilles tendon. In vitro, the well-aligned nanofibers could elongate hDFs, induce a tenogenic phenotype and form better organized neotendon respectively compared with random nanofibers. In vivo, the bridged nanofibers of aligned group could better recruit host cells and regenerate Achilles tendon de novo with enhanced tenogenic gene expression. Aligned nanofibers could induce tenogenic phenotype in vitro and regenerate tendon in vivo.