(1) Background: Three-dimensional (3D) collagen I-based skin models are commonly used in drug development and substance testing but have major drawbacks such as batch-to-batch variations and ethical concerns. Recently, synthetic nanofibrous scaffolds created by electrospinning have received increasing interest as potential alternatives due to their morphological similarities to native collagen fibrils in size and orientation. The overall objective of this proof-of-concept study was to demonstrate the suitability of two synthetic polymers in creating electrospun scaffolds for 3D skin cell models. (2) Methods: Electrospun nanofiber mats were produced with (i) poly(acrylonitrile-co-methyl acrylate) (P(AN-MA)) and (ii) a blend of pullulan (Pul), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) (Pul/PVA/PAA) and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectra. Primary skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes were seeded onto the nanofiber mats and analyzed for phenotypic characteristics (phalloidin staining), viability (Presto Blue HS assay), proliferation (Ki-67 staining), distribution (H/E staining), responsiveness to biological stimuli (qPCR), and formation of skin-like structures (H/E staining). (3) Results: P(AN-MA) mats were more loosely packed than the Pul/PVA/PAA mats, concomitant with larger fiber diameter (340 nm ± 120 nm vs. 250 nm ± 120 nm, p < 0.0001). After sterilization and exposure to cell culture media for 28 days, P(AN-MA) mats showed significant adsorption of fetal calf serum (FCS) from the media into the fibers (DRIFT spectra) and increased fiber diameter (590 nm ± 290 nm, p < 0.0001). Skin fibroblasts were viable over time on both nanofiber mats, but suitable cell infiltration only occurred in the P(AN-MA) nanofiber mats. On P(AN-MA) mats, fibroblasts showed their characteristic spindle-like shape, produced a dermis-like structure, and responded well to TGF$\mathsf{\beta }$ stimulation, with a significant increase in the mRNA expression of PAI1, COL1A1, and αSMA (all p < 0.05). Primary keratinocytes seeded on top of the dermis equivalent proliferated and formed a stratified epidermis-like structure. (4) Conclusion: P(AN-MA) and Pul/PVA/PAA are both biocompatible materials suitable for nanofiber mat production. P(AN-MA) mats hold greater potential as future 3D skin models due to enhanced cell compatibility (i.e., adsorption of FCS proteins), cell infiltration (i.e., increased pore size due to swelling behavior), and cell phenotype preservation. Thus, our proof-of-concept study shows an easy and robust process of producing electrospun scaffolds for 3D skin cell models made of P(AN-MA) nanofibers without the need for bioactive molecule attachments.

Background: Attendance in educational settings such as schools is often accompanied by varying levels of anxiety for many students. One of the most significant types of anxiety in educational environments is exam anxiety. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of metacognitive therapy on social avoidance, distress, and academic persistence among students with exam anxiety in 2023. Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a pretest-posttest design to assess the efficacy of metacognitive therapy for female students with exam anxiety. All female second-grade high school students in Ahvaz city who reported experiencing exam anxiety during the 2022 - 2023 academic year were included in the study sample. A purposive sample of 36 female students was randomly divided into two groups: An experimental group receiving metacognitive therapy and a control group. The experimental group participated in seven 60-minute sessions of metacognitive therapy, conducted twice a week. The control group did not receive any intervention during the study period. The Social Avoidance and Distress Scale (SADS) and Academic Persistence Scale (APS) were administered to both groups before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance to control for baseline differences. Results: Metacognitive therapy was effective in reducing social avoidance and distress, as well as in improving academic persistence in high school students (P < 0.001). Specifically, the mean social avoidance and distress score decreased significantly from 19.67 ±1.68 to 10.11 ±2.13 in the metacognitive therapy group. Additionally, the mean academic persistence score increased significantly from 9.39 ±1.78 to 23.72 ±3.10 in the metacognitive therapy group. Conclusions: Metacognitive therapy effectively reduced social avoidance and distress while increasing academic persistence in female students with exam anxiety. This study highlights the therapy's potential as a valuable intervention for improving the overall well-being and academic performance of students facing similar challenges.