Biomimetic electroactive nanofibrous hydrogel scaffolds based on polythiophene-grafted tragacanth gum and poly(vinyl alcohol) for skin tissue engineering application

Abstract

Natural polymers-based nanofibrous scaffolds are received more and more attention for numerous tissue engineering (TE) processes owing to their superior physicochemical as well as biological features. In this research a series of scaffolds were fabricated based on polythiophene-grafted tragacanth gum (TG-g-PTh) and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) for skin tissue engineering (STE). For this purpose, the high molecular weight of TG was decreased through ultrasonic treatment in basic medium followed by functionalization with a thiophene moiety to afford a thiophene-functionalized TG macromonomer (ThTGM). Afterward, thiophene monomer was grafted onto ThTGM via a chemical oxidation polymerization approach. Mixture solutions of TG-g-PTh and PVA with various ratios were co-electrospun to afford electroactive nanofibrous hydrogel scaffolds. Three dimensional (3D) interconnected and uniform porous structure of the fabricated scaffolds was proved through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Scaffold with 7 wt% of TG-g-PTh showed better cytocompatibility and adhesion as well as proliferation of fibroblast L929 cells in comparison with 5 and 10 wt% of TG-g-PTh. All scaffolds showed proper hemocompatibilities (hemolysis rates less than 3 % in concentration of 200 µgmL-1) and human serum albumin (HSA) adsorption capacities.