Polymers are used in tissue engineering as a scaffold. In this study the differentiation capability of conjunctiva mesenchymal stem cells (CJMSCs) on natural and synthetic nanofibrous electrospun scaffolds into insulin producing cells (IPCs) were studied.

Natural Silk fibroin and synthetic PLLA polymers were used to fabricate electrospun scaffolds. These scaffolds are characterized by SEM and CJMSCs were differentiated into IPCs on these scaffolds. The differentiation efficiency was measured by analysis the expression of specific pancreatic markers by RT-qPCR and insulin release capacity via ELISA.

Microscopy analysis showed the fabrication of uniform nanofibers and the formation of the islet-like clusters at the end of differentiation period. Significant differences in expression of Pdx-1 and glucagon were observed in PLLA scaffold compared to Silk scaffold (Fold: 1.625 and 1.434, respectively; P-value ≤ 0.0001 for both). Furthermore, insulin secretion at high glucose concentration was significantly higher in cells differentiated on PLLA scaffold than those cultured on Silk scaffold (P-value: 0.012).

The scaffolds can enhance the differentiation of IPCs from CJMSCs. In this way, PLLA synthetic scaffold was more efficient than Silk natural scaffold. We conclude that the nanofibrous scaffolds reported herein could be used as a potential supportive matrix for islet tissue engineering.

聚合物在组织工程中用作支架。在这项研究中，研究了结膜间充质干细胞（CJMSC）在天然和合成纳米纤维电纺丝支架上向胰岛素产生细胞（IPC）的分化能力。

天然丝素蛋白和合成PLLA聚合物用于制造电纺支架。这些支架通过SEM表征，并且CJMSC在这些支架上分化为IPC。通过RT-qPCR分析特定胰腺标志物的表达并通过ELISA分析胰岛素释放能力，从而测定分化效率。

显微镜分析表明，在分化期末，均匀的纳米纤维的制造和胰岛样簇的形成。与丝绸支架相比，在PLLA支架中观察到Pdx-1和胰高血糖素的表达存在显着差异（折叠：分别为1.625和1.434；两者的P值均≤0.0001）。此外，在PLLA支架上分化的细胞中，在高葡萄糖浓度下的胰岛素分泌明显高于在Silk支架上培养的细胞（P值：0.012）。

支架可以增强IPC从CJMSC的分化。这样，PLLA合成支架比Silk天然支架更有效。我们得出的结论是，本文报道的纳米纤维支架可用作胰岛组织工程的潜在支持基质。