Electrospun polymer scaffolds have great potential in biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, skin patches, and drug delivery [1]. To stimulate cell regeneration on scaffolds, one of the pathways is to create an electrical microenvironment [2]. Electrospun polymer fibers are known for their high surface area and holding surface potential that can be controlled. Importantly, any change in the chemical composition of produced fibers or the incorporation of particles changes surface potential, such as cell adhesion and their development including the collagen production. Tackling a significant challenge in the design of core-shell fibers, specifically concerning the blending effect between core and shell polymers during co-axcial electrospinning is one of the open questions in the drug delivery and tissue engineering research [3]. Therefore, the surface chemistry and surface potential of electrospun scaffolds were verified using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), and zeta potential, respectively. By studing cell-material interaction we shed light on the scaffolds design and underscores the importance of understanding the interplay between fiber properties and various cells for speeding the regeneration processes in tissue bioenginnering. 

Acknowledgments: This study was financially supported by the PIECRISCI project founded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 958174 and within M-ERA.NET 3 funded by National Science Centre, Poland No 2021/03/Y/ST5/00231 and by ERC-2020-STG project (BioCom4SavEn), ERC grant agreement no. 948840, granted by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and AGH University, Initiative of Excellence – Research University” (IDUB). 

References:
[1] Szewczyk, P. K.; Kopacz, M.; Krysiak, Z. J.; Stachewicz, U., Macromolecular Materials and Engineering. 2023, Volume 309, Issue 2, 2300291. 
[2] Szewczyk, P. K.; Berniak, K.; Knapczyk-Korczak, J.; Karbowniczek, J. E.; Marzec, M. M.; Bernasik, A.; Stachewicz, U., Nanoscale. 2023,15, 6890.
[3] Polak, M.; Ura, D.P.; Berniak, K.; Szewczyk, P. K.; Marzec, M. M.; Stachewicz, U., Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces. 113864, 2024.