Composite Nanofiber Scaffolds Research Articles

Centrifugally spun hydroxyapatite/carbon composite nanofiber scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

In recent years, advancements in tissue engineering have demonstrated the potential to expedite bone matrix formation, leading to shorter recovery times and decreased clinical challenges compared to conventional methods. Therefore, this study aims to develop composite carbon nanofibers (CNFs) integrated with nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) particles as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications. A key strategy in achieving this objective involves harnessing nanofibrous structures, which offer a high surface area, coupled with nHA particles expected to accelerate bone regeneration and enhance biological activity. To realize this, polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/nHA nanofibers were fabricated using the centrifugal spinning (C-Spin) technique and subsequently carbonized to yield CNF/nHA composite structures. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed C-Spin as a suitable method for PAN and CNF nanofiber production, with nHA particles uniformly dispersed throughout the nanofibrous structure. Carbonization resulted in reduced fiber diameter due to thermal decomposition and shrinkage of PAN molecules during the process. Furthermore, the incorporation of nHA particles into PAN lowered the stabilization temperature (by 5 °C–20 °C). Tensile tests revealed that PAN samples experienced an approximately 80% increase in ultimate tensile strength and a 187% increase in modulus with a 5 wt.% nHA loading. However, following carbonization, CNF samples exhibited a 50% decrease in strength compared to PAN samples. Additionally, the addition of nHA into CNF improved the graphitic structure. The incorporation of nHA particles into the spinning solution represents a viable strategy for enhancing CNF bioactivity.

Strategically Designed Bifunctional Polydopamine Enwrapping Polycaprolactone-Hydroxyapatite-Doxorubicin Composite Nanofibers for Osteosarcoma Treatment and Bone Regeneration.

This study presents a new multifunctional nanofibrous drug delivery system to provide effective combination therapy with enormous potential for the treatment of osteosarcoma. We developed a composite nanofiber scaffold comprising poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and hydroxyapatite (HAp)-loaded doxorubicin (DOX) coated with polydopamine (PDA) to combine cancer cell inhibition with bone tissue regeneration. DOX was conjugated with HAp and then mixed with a PCL solution to prepare a PCL/HAp-DOX (labeled PCLDH) nanofiber. Then, in situ polymerization of PDA on the PCLDH occurred to produce the PCLDH@PDA composite nanofiber. The morphology, XRD, FT-IR, wettability, photothermal characteristics, cumulative drug release, and in vitro bioactivities were evaluated. We found that the PDA coating not only enhanced the hydrophilic properties but also controlled drug release. The PCLDH@PDA composite scaffold significantly suppressed the proliferation of bone cancer cells initially and, consequently, improved the adhesion and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The PDA coating boosted the composite scaffold's bioactivity, as demonstrated through ALP activity, ARS assay, and biomineralization results. This strategy offers a promising dual-function scaffold to treat residual cancer and reconstruct defects after osteosarcoma surgery.

Multifunctional silk fibroin and cellulose acetate composite nanofibers incorporated with palladium and platinum nanoparticles for enhanced wound healing: Comprehensive characterization and in vivo assessment

Wound healing is a complex and dynamic process that relies on various factors for optimal tissue regeneration. Current wound management methods often lack the efficiency needed to address these challenges. In this study, we prepared and conducted a comprehensive analysis of silk fibroin and cellulose acetate composite nanofibers incorporated with palladium (Pd) and platinum (Pt) nanoparticles, emphasizing their potential as advanced materials for wound healing. Electron microscopy reveals nanofibrous scaffolds with interconnected fibers, an average diameter of 168.95 ± 135.79 nm, and Pd and Pt nanoparticles of 10.64 nm and 9.21 nm, with thicknesses ranging from 1.48 nm to 2.13 nm. The analysis of swelling, degradation, porosity, and mechanical strength highlights their capacity to absorb exudates from wound surfaces, promote cell adhesion, and support tissue regeneration. In vitro evaluation demonstrates significant antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with inhibition zone values of 16 mm and 18 mm, respectively. Cell migration, proliferation, and biocompatibility are assessed using the L929 fibroblast cell line with the ethidium bromide (EtBr) dye. In vivo studies on Sprague-Dawley rats indicate SF/CA/Pd-Pt composite nanofibers have exceptional wound healing efficiency, reaching 99.31% compared to the SF/CA matrix. High hemocompatibility, with erythrocyte percentages ranging from 1.6% to 4.1%, further supports these nanofibers wound healing properties. Histopathological analysis, employing hematoxylin and eosin staining, provides valuable insights into tissue regeneration, assessing reepithelialization, granulation, angiogenesis, and reduced inflammation. These findings emphasize the potential of Pd and Pt nanoparticles incorporated into SF/CA composite nanofiber scaffolds as advanced biomedical materials, particularly for wound healing applications.

Utilizing Proteomic Analysis to Assess the Biocompatibility and Growth Behavior of Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Colorectal Cancer Cells on Polylactic Acid/Polyglycolic Acid Composite Scaffold

This research aimed to analyze the biocompatibility and growth behavior of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated colorectal cancer (CRC) cells on a polylactic acid/polyglycolic acid (PLA-PCL) composite nanofiber scaffold (CNS) using proteomic analysis. The PLA-PCL CNS was prepared using a gel extraction phase separation (GEPS) method in a dioxane/ethanol solvent system, and the effects of gel temperature, PLA-PCL mass ratio (MR), solvent-to-polymer MR on the structure and properties of the PLA-PCL CNS were analyzed. Subsequently, Lappaol F (LAF) was incorporated into the PLA-PCL CNS using electrospinning (ES) technology, and tissue specimens were obtained from HIV-associated CRC patients to investigate the impacts of LAF-PLA-PCL CNS on the growth behavior of HIV-associated CRC cells through mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analysis. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) revealed that the CNS could be obtained at gel temperatures between −20 °C and −10 °C, PLA-to-PCL MRs of 1:1, 3:2, 7:3, and ethanol content of 5%–15%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the PLA-to-PCL MR of 70:30 exhibited compatibility and crystallinity of the PLA-PCL CNS, while the porosity increased with an increase in PCL content. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis indicated a good biological activity of the PLA-PCL CNS. The relative cell proliferation (RCP) and cytotoxicity grades exhibited no marked differences (P >0.05) between the cancer cells cultured with DMEM and those with PLA-PCL scaffold extract over time. Proteomic analysis identified 127 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in HIV-associated CRC cells co-cultured with LAF-PLA-PCL CNS, and Gene Ontology (GO) protein and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis (KEGG analysis) revealed that the LAF-PLA-PCL NCS could affect the cell cycle (CC) of HIV-associated CRC cells. In conclusion, the PLA-PCL NCS exhibited good compatibility, crystallinity, and biological activity, while the LAF-PLA-PCL NCS showed the potential to inhibit cell proliferation by affecting the CC.

Multifunctional electrospun nanofibrous scaffold enriched with alendronate and hydroxyapatite for balancing osteogenic and osteoclast activity to promote bone regeneration.

Electrospun composite nanofiber scaffolds are well known for their bone and tissue regeneration applications. This research is focused on the development of PVP and PVA nanofiber composite scaffolds enriched with hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles and alendronate (ALN) using the electrospinning technique. The developed nanofiber scaffolds were investigated for their physicochemical as well as bone regeneration potential. The results obtained from particle size, zeta potential, SEM and EDX analysis of HA nanoparticles confirmed their successful fabrication. Further, SEM analysis verified nanofiber's diameters within 200-250nm, while EDX analysis confirmed the successful incorporation of HA and ALN into the scaffolds. XRD and TGA analysis revealed the amorphous and thermally stable nature of the nanofiber composite scaffolds. Contact angle, FTIR analysis, Swelling and biodegradability studies revealed the hydrophilicity, chemical compatibility, suitable water uptake capacity and increased in-vitro degradation making it appropriate for tissue regeneration. The addition of HA into nanofiber scaffolds enhanced the physiochemical properties. Additionally, hemolysis cell viability, cell adhesion and proliferation by SEM as well as confocal microscopy and live/dead assay results demonstrated the non-toxic and biocompatibility behavior of nanofiber scaffolds. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) assays demonstrated osteoblast promotion and osteoclast inhibition, respectively. These findings suggest that developed HA and ALN-loaded PVP/PVA-ALN-HA nanofiber composite scaffolds hold significant promise for bone regeneration applications.

Silk fibroin and gelatin composite nanofiber combined with silver and gold nanoparticles for wound healing accelerated by reducing the inflammatory response

The design and development of silver and gold nanoparticles incorporated into silk fibroin and gelatin composite nanofibers were prepared using the electrospun method. The functional group, chemical composition, and thermal stability of composite nanofibrous scaffolds were investigated using different characterization techniques. The confirmation of SF/GL/Ag-Au composite nanofibers was achieved through FE-SEM and AFM images, which proved to be highly beneficial for assessing surface morphology, thickness, and roughness area (Ra) with dimensions of 777 nm and 292.71 nm, respectively. Furthermore, HR-TEM images were used to elucidate the morphological structure and size of metal nanoparticles in SF/GL/Ag-Au composite nanofibers, revealing an average diameter length of 220.85 ± 82.65 nm for Ag and Au nanoparticles sizes noted at 6.25 nm and 11.56 nm. In addition, flow cytometry analysis of SF/GL/Ag-Au composite nanofibers was conducted to assess the viability of L929 cells and detect the apoptosis levels. Furthermore, invivo wound healing studies were performed on Sprague-Dawley rat animals. The results demonstrated that SF/GL/Ag-Au composite nanofiber scaffolds significantly accelerated wound closure, achieving a remarkable 99.58 % wound healing rate in the 21 days compared to control groups. In conclusion, our findings highlight that SF/GL/Ag-Au composite nanofiber scaffolds are highly suitable for wound dressing applications.

Myogenic differentiation of human myoblasts and Mesenchymal stromal cells under GDF11 on Poly-ɛ-caprolactone-collagen I-Polyethylene-nanofibers

BackgroundFor the purpose of skeletal muscle engineering, primary myoblasts (Mb) and adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells (ADSC) can be co-cultured and myogenically differentiated. Electrospun composite nanofiber scaffolds represent suitable matrices for tissue engineering of skeletal muscle, combining both biocompatibility and stability Although growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) has been proposed as a rejuvenating circulating factor, restoring skeletal muscle function in aging mice, some studies have also described a harming effect of GDF11. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the effect of GDF11 on co-cultures of Mb and ADSC on poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL)-collagen I-polyethylene oxide (PEO)-nanofibers.ResultsHuman Mb were co-cultured with ADSC two-dimensionally (2D) as monolayers or three-dimensionally (3D) on aligned PCL-collagen I-PEO-nanofibers. Differentiation media were either serum-free with or without GDF11, or serum containing as in a conventional differentiation medium. Cell viability was higher after conventional myogenic differentiation compared to serum-free and serum-free + GDF11 differentiation as was creatine kinase activity. Immunofluorescence staining showed myosine heavy chain expression in all groups after 28 days of differentiation without any clear evidence of more or less pronounced expression in either group. Gene expression of myosine heavy chain (MYH2) increased after serum-free + GDF11 stimulation compared to serum-free stimulation alone.ConclusionsThis is the first study analyzing the effect of GDF11 on myogenic differentiation of Mb and ADSC co-cultures under serum-free conditions. The results of this study show that PCL-collagen I-PEO-nanofibers represent a suitable matrix for 3D myogenic differentiation of Mb and ADSC. In this context, GDF11 seems to promote myogenic differentiation of Mb and ADSC co-cultures compared to serum-free differentiation without any evidence of a harming effect.

Multi-biofunctional graphene oxide-enhanced poly-L-lactic acid composite nanofiber scaffolds for ovarian function recovery of transplanted-tissue

In this study, we successfully constructed the new graphene oxide/poly-L-lactic acid (GO/PLLA) nanofiber scaffolds with a hydrophilic surface and porous network structure that were highly favorable for cell infiltration. When employed these new nanofiber scaffolds for a wide range of tissue engineering applications, it was expected to promote graft tissue survival and angiogenesis. The new GO/PLLA nanofiber scaffold with an appropriate concentration of 1.0 wt% was applied for the restoration of ovarian function and reserve in mice with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). After co-transplanting the normal ovarian cortex loaded on these new nanomaterials into the in situ ovarian tissue of POI mice, the fusion of transplanted ovarian cortex with damaged ovarian tissue was improved, as well as the ovarian function and the follicle numbers. Moreover, angiogenesis was observed clearly and proved to exist in the transplanted tissue and nanomaterials, with the most conspicuous effect after co-transplantation with 1.0 wt% GO/PLLA nanofiber scaffold. In addition, nitric oxide (NO) production by phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS) in vivo was proven to be involved in the effect of GO and PLLA on the improved survival rate of the transplanted ovarian cortex. This study provides a new method for the fertility preservation of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation, as well as a new strategy for the transplantation of other organs.

Enhanced wound-healing capability with inherent antimicrobial activities of usnic acid incorporated poly(ε-caprolactone)/decellularized extracellular matrix nanofibrous scaffold

An extracellular matrix-mimicking, biodegradable tissue-engineered skin substitute with improved antibacterial, antibiofilm, and wound healing capabilities is essential in skin tissue regeneration applications. The purpose of this study was to develop a novel biodegradable composite nanofibrous poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) scaffolds loaded with usnic acid (UA); (PEU), where UA is employed as an antibacterial agent as well as a wound-healing accelerator. The architecture and fiber structure of the scaffolds were examined using scanning electron microscopy, and the results revealed that the average diameters decreased as the dECM content increased. The chemical composition, changes in the crystalline structure, homogeneity, and thermal stability of the nanofiber scaffolds with different material compositions were determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. The composite nanofibrous scaffolds exhibited strong antibacterial activity against various bacterial species, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans, and Cutibactrium acnes, and fungal pathogens (such as Candida albicans). Additionally, the composite nanofibrous scaffolds exhibited biofilm inhibition properties against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An evaluation of the appearance of in vivo full-thickness excisional wounds treated with the composite nanofiber scaffolds, as well as a histological analysis of the wounds 21days after surgery, revealed that treatment with nanofibrous PEU scaffolds enhanced wound healing. This study reveals that the proposed composite nanofibrous PEU scaffold has substantial potential for treating infectious full-thickness wounds.

A Performance of a Nanofiber Polymer in Geotechnical Engineering Support

Geotechnical engineering is a new technical system established by European and American countries in the practice of civil engineering in the 1960s. There are many methods to manufacture nanofibers, such as stretching, template synthesis, self-assembly, microphase separation, and electrospinning. Among them, electrospinning is widely used because of its simple operation, wide application range, and relatively high production efficiency. This paper aims to study how to analyze and study the properties of engineering scaffolds along the way based on nanofiber polymers. In this paper, the performance of geotechnical scaffolds is proposed, which is based on nanofibers. This paper focuses on the concept of nanofibers and geotechnical physical mechanics. In this paper, the performance of geotechnical support is designed and analyzed. The experimental results show that the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the pure SF collagen nanofiber membrane is about 250°C and that of the pure PLLA nanofiber membrane is about 330°C. When SF collagen/PLLA = 70 : 30, the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the material is about 260°C. When the mass ratio is 50 : 50, the initial thermal decomposition temperature increases to about 270°C. When the mass ratio is 30 : 70, the initial thermal decomposition temperature increases to about 280°C. This is because PLLA is a semi-crystalline polymer with certain thermal stability. Its heat resistance is better than that of pure SF collagen. With the increase in the amount of PLLA, it can effectively improve the thermal stability of blended composite nanofiber scaffolds.

Fabrication of Biologically Inspired Electrospun Collagen/Silk fibroin/bioactive glass composited nanofibrous scaffold to accelerate the treatment efficiency of bone repair.

Bone disease and disorder treatment might be difficult because of its complicated nature. Millions of patients each year need bone substitutes that may help them recover quickly from a variety of illnesses. Synthetic bone replacements that mirror the structural, chemical, and biological features of bone matrix structure will be very helpful and in high demand. In this research, the inorganic bioactive glass nanoparticles matrixed with organic collagen and silk fibroin structure (COL/SF/CaO-SiO2) were used to create multifunctional bone-like fibers in this study, which we describe here. The fiber structure is organized in a layered fashion comparable to the sequence in which apatite and neo tissue are formed. The amino groups in COL and SF combined with CaO-SiO2 to stabilize the resulting composite nanofiber. Morphological and functional studies confirmed that crystalline CaO-SiO2 nanoparticles with average sizes of 20 ± 5 nm are anchored on a 115 ± 10 nm COL/SF nanofiber matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) results confirmed the presence of C, N, O, Ca, and Si in the composite fiber with an atomic percentage of 59.46, 3.30, 20.25, 3.38 and 13.61%. respectively. The biocompatibility examination with osteoblast cells (Saos-2) revealed that the CAL/SF/CaO-SiO2 composite nanofiber had enhanced osteogenic activity. Finally, when the CAL/SF/CaO-SiO2 composite nanofiber scaffolds were used to treat an osteoporotic bone defect in a rat model, the composite nanofiber scaffolds significantly promoted bone regeneration and vascularization. This novel fibrous scaffold class represents a potential breakthrough in the design of advanced materials for complicated bone regeneration.

Preparation and antibacterial evaluation of a beta-tricalcium phosphate/collagen nanofiber biomimetic composite scaffold

The collagen-based grafts currently available do not provide structural guidance for cell growth due to the high water solubility and fast degradation of collagen (Col) and are susceptible to bacterial infection after implantation. We fabricated a parallel-aligned beta-tricalcium phosphate/collagen (β-TCP/Col) composite nanofiber scaffolds with similar microstructure to natural bone matrix membrane. We tested the effects of different electrospinning parameters (spinning voltage, receiving distance, advancing speed, and rotation speed of the drum) on the morphology and structure of the nanofibers to determine the optimal parameter setting. The fabricated scaffold was crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to lower the water solubility and degradation rate of Col. The scaffold was capable of promoting biomimetic apatite-like mineral deposition in vitro to form a mineral-nanofiber composite, which can be beneficial for promoting bone integration during bone repair. The scaffold not only has good bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) compatibility, but also shows a strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E.coli) to lower the risk of bacterial infections after implantation. This composite nanofiber scaffold provides a new bioactive bone scaffold material for bone defect repair with an antibacterial activity.

The effect of the polyglycolic acid/collagen composite nanofiber scaffold with fibroblast growth factor in wound healing

The effect of the polyglycolic acid/collagen composite nanofiber scaffold with fibroblast growth factor in wound healing

Optimizing the physical parameters of polycaprolactone-gelatin-polydimethylsiloxane composite nanofiber scaffold for tissue engineering application

A lot of research has already been conducted on tissue engineering as it can have the potential for organ and tissue regeneration and repair. Research on the proliferation of cells on the scaffolds, which are material-based structures in the extracellular matrix, increased efficiency of 3D cultures. In this study, the stages of preparing a nanofiber scaffold with different ratios of three polymers of Polycaprolactone/Gelatin/Polydimethylsiloxane (PCL/G/PDMS) which is biodegradable, non-toxic and biocompatible are explained for tissue engineering and then fibroblast cells cultivation are discussed. The morphology, porosity and hydrophilicity of the prepared scaffolds were evaluated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), the liquid displacement method, water contact-angle measurements respectively. The cell growth and proliferation on scaffolds were counted by Digimizer© software. Then morphology, porosity and hydrophilicity of scaffolds and cell growth and proliferation on scaffolds were optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The results show that PCL/G/PDMS electrospun nanofibers can be used for tissue engineering applications. The purpose of this scaffold is design a scaffold for elastic tissue engineering, especially uterine tissue, which will be discussed in the following articles.

Electrospun Mg/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) composite scaffold for urethral reconstruction

Hypospadias is a common congenital malformation of the male urogenital system. As a recently arisen reconstruction method for hypospadias, polymer tissue engineering urethral scaffold often results in necrosis and other complications due to the lack of bioactivity. To improve the bioactivity of polymer, in this work, we prepared biodegradable Mg/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) composite nanofiber scaffolds by electrospun with 3, 6, and 9 wt.% of micron-scale Mg particles. The mechanical properties of the PLGA scaffold gradually decrease with the addition of Mg particles but still at an acceptable level. On the other hand, these composite scaffolds show very good biocompatibility and promotional bioactivity, namely non-cytotoxicity, gradual proliferation enhancement, and good adhesion state of human adipose stem cells (HADSCs) on the scaffold surface. Besides, through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) test, different genes expression levels of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were also gradually up-regulated with the increase in Mg content. The present results indicate that Mg containing PLGA scaffolds might not only have the potential to promote tissue regeneration related to urethral repair, but also stimulate endothelial cells to achieve vascularization and anti-inflammatory functions. Consequently, considering both the mechanical properties and bioactivity for clinical demand, the Mg/PLGA composite scaffolds with suitable Mg contents are promising for the regeneration of defective urethral tissues.

Fabrication of multifunctional cellulose/TiO2 /Ag composite nanofibers scaffold with antibacterial and bioactivity properties for future tissue engineering applications.

In the present work, a novel strategy was explored to fabricate nanofiber scaffolds consisting of cellulose assimilated with titanium dioxide (TiO2 ) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs). The concentration of the TiO2 NPs in the composite was adjusted to 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 wt % with respect to polymer concentration used for the electrospinning of colloidal solutions. The fabricated composite scaffolds were dispensed to alkaline deacetylation using 0.05 M NaOH to remove the acetyl groups in order to generate pure cellulose nanofibers containing TiO2 NPs. Moreover, to augment our nanofiber scaffolds with antibacterial activity, the in situ deposition approach of using Ag NPs was utilized with varied molar concentrations of 0.14, 0.42, and 0.71 M. The physicochemical properties of the nanofibers were identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and contact angle meter studies. This demonstrated the presence of both TiO2 and Ag NPs and complete deacetylation of nanofibers. The antibacterial efficiency of the nanofibers was scrutinized against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, revealing proper in situ deposition of Ag NPs and confirming the nanofibers are antibacterial in nature. The biocompatibility of the scaffolds was accustomed using chicken embryo fibroblasts, which confirmed their potential role to be used as wound-healing materials. Furthermore, the fabricated scaffolds were subjected to analysis in simulated body fluid at 37°C to induce mineralization for future osseous tissue integration. These results indicate that fabricated composite nanofiber scaffolds with multifunctional characteristics will have a highest potential as a future candidate for promoting new tissues artificially.

Synthesis of magnesium phosphate nanoflakes and its PCL composite electrospun nanofiber scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration.

This study describes the preparation of nano-magnesium phosphate (nMP) flakes by one step microwave irradiation method. The synthesized nMP was incorporated with polycaprolactone (PCL), hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG) and nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) to fabricate as composite electrospun nanofibrous scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications. The electrospun nanofibers were analyzed by scanning electron microscope, XRD, FTIR, DSC, TGA, and wettability measurement. The nanofibers were smooth, randomly oriented, and surface decorated with nMP. The water contact angle was 32±1° (initial contact angle), which reduces to 0° after 1min for HPG and nMP containing nanocomposites, while the contact angle of PCL is 104±5°. The nanocomposite scaffolds exhibited higher swelling, biomineralization, and breakages during PBS immersion. The scaffolds were non-cytotoxic to MG63 osteosarcoma cells and hMSCs with higher viability after 72h. They allowed good adhesion and spreading of these cells when compared to PCL and PCL/nHA electrospun nanofibers. These results indicated that HPG with surface decorated nMP electrospun nanocomposite scaffold can be a promising material for bone tissue engineering applications.

Incorporating PCL nanofibers with oyster shell to improve osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Electrospun poly (Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) has been widely utilized as a biomedical scaffold material to regenerate damaged tissues. However, an electrospun scaffold made from PCL can have some drawbacks such as lack of surface bioactivity, low cell adhesion, as well as osteoinduction, which often make it unsuitable as an implant. Moreover, such a scaffold can produce acidic degradations that cause an inflammatory response at the implantation site. To overcome these negative aspects, composite electrospun nanofiber scaffolds of PCL/oyster shell (OS) were developed in this study. Then, surface morphology and chemistry of the given scaffolds were characterized. As well, tensile strength and surface hydrophilicity were evaluated. The osteogenic proliferation and differentiation potentials of these scaffolds were further evaluated through determining basic osteogenic markers using human adipose tissue derived from mesenchymal stem cells. The results revealed that the scaffolds fabricated had a very good surface property and better tensile strength than pristine PCL ones. The osteogenic proliferation and differentiation potentials were also reported to be better than those in pristine PCL scaffolds. Hence, the presence of OS could enhance PCL surface properties and bioactivity. Therefore, PCL/OS composite scaffolds developed in this study were assumed cost-effective and ideal which would offer promising alternatives for bone tissue engineering applications.

Improved piezoelectric performances of highly orientated poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) electrospun nanofiber membrane scaffold blended with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Highly orientated poly(β-hydroxybutyrate)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PHB/MWCNTs) composite nanofiber membrane scaffold was fabricated by electrospinning followed by hot-stretching treatment. X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of MWCNTs in the structure of PHB/MWCNTs composite. Compared with neat PHB nanofiber scaffold, PHB/MWCNTs composite nanofiber scaffolds contained higher content of β-form crystals. The measured piezoelectric charge constant and induced electrical potentials generated on the surface of the nanofiber scaffolds indicated that addition of MWCNTs to PHB nanofiber matrix and hot-stretching treatment contributed to improving piezoelectric performances of PHB. The developed PHB/MWCNTs composite ‘smart’ nanofiber membrane is applicable for biomedical field, electronic sensors and actuators.

Wrinkle-Free, Sandwich, Electrospun PLGA/SF Nanofibrous Scaffold for Skin Tissue Engineering

Electrospinning is a technique for creating continuous nanofibrous networks that can architecturally be similar to the structure of extracellular matrix. In this work, a simple and semiautomatic electrostatic spinning system is designed, and a method of multilayer composite electrostatic spinning is adopted, which is called the hierarchical construction (sandwich mode). Then, a kind of PLGA/silk fibroin composite electrospinning nanofibrous scaffolds is proposed for the growth of skin cells in combination with the good characters of silk fibroin and PLGA. The SEM experiment of the silk fibroin/PLGA composite nanofibers indicated that the prepared nanofibers are smooth, uniform in size, and have good porosity. The wrinkled contrast test shows that this nanofiber scaffold remains flat in the culture medium as the original, and is basically not shrink. The water absorption experimental results show that the composite nanofiber scaffold has good hydrophilicity, and the increase in water absorption with time is not obvious. The cell culture experiment is also shown that the skin cells can proliterate on the scaffold.