Novel electrospun poly(glycerol sebacate)–zein fiber mats as candidate materials for cardiac tissue engineering

Abstract

The application of a cardiac patch made of biodegradable polymer is a novel approach in regenerative therapies for infarcted cardiac tissue and aims to deliver healthy and functional cells on a mechanically supporting matrix to the damaged area of the myocardium. In this study a novel type of tissue engineered cardiac construct based on poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) blended with the corn protein zein was developed. Bead free electrospun PGS–zein fibers were fabricated using acetic acid as a benign solvent. In vitro degradation studies in PBS revealed a physicochemically stable system over a 28day period showing only a slight drop in pH after 28days. The results indicate that the novel PGS–zein fibrous structures are attractive biomaterials which can be valuable for cardiac patch applications thus warranting their further investigation in vitro and in vivo.