Biomimetic Catechol-Incorporated Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering of Functional Salivary Glands

This study developed catechol-incorporated polyacrylonitrile (PAN-C) nanofiber scaffolds that mimic the embryonic salivary gland niche by adsorbing extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and growth factors secreted by mesenchymal cells. PAN-C nanofibers provided biomimetic mechanical and biochemical cues, promoting epithelial proliferation, branching morphogenesis, and acinar differentiation in embryonic salivary gland (eSG) organoids (Fig. 1–6, pp. 3–12). RNA-seq showed that PAN-C reduced mechanical stress genes (Actg2, Cyr61) and up-regulated cell-growth and differentiation markers (Ccnd1, Aqp5). Functional organoids displayed polarized apical AQP5 expression and restored secretory-like phenotypes without exogenous FGF-2 or laminin, highlighting PAN-C as a bioactive, cost-effective platform for salivary gland regeneration.