Preparation of PCL/silk fibroin/collagen electrospun fiber for urethral reconstruction

Abstract

To prepare polycaprolactone (PCL)/silk fibroin/collagen electrospun nanofiber scaffold and test its effects on growth and proliferation of oral mucosal epithelial cells. Regenerated silk fibroin film, water-soluble collagen powder, and PCL, at mass ratios of 1:1:4, 1:1:8, and 1:1:10, were dissolved in hexafluoroisopropanol, and electrostatic spinning method was adopted to prepare PCL/silk fibroin/collagen electrospun nanofiber scaffold. In vitro cultured oral mucosal epithelial cells were inoculated on the material surface, MTT assay and scanning electron microscopy were adopted to study the growth and proliferation of oral mucosal epithelial cells on the material surface, and cell compatibility of PCL/silk fibroin/collagen electrospun nanofiber was evaluated. The result of MTT assay showed that oral mucosal epithelial cells were growing well on the PCL/silk fibroin/collagen electrospun nanofiber scaffold. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the prepared electrospun fiber was uniform in diameter and presented an interconnected porous net structure, and oral mucosal epithelial cells had a good growth form on the surface of the modified material. PCL/silk fibroin/collagen electrospun nanofiber scaffold has appropriate pore size and porosity, is suitable for the growth of oral mucosal epithelial cells, has good cell compatibility, and is a good scaffold for tissue engineering urethral reconstruction.