Core-shell Fibers Research Articles

Facile Formation of Multifunctional Biomimetic Hydrogel Fibers for Sensing Applications.

To face the challenges in preparing hydrogel fibers with complex structures and functions, this study utilized a microfluidic coaxial co-extrusion technique to successfully form functional hydrogel fibers through rapid ionic crosslinking. Functional hydrogel fibers with complex structures, including linear fibers, core-shell structure fibers, embedded helical channels, hollow tubes, and necklaces, were generated by adjusting the composition of internal and external phases. The characteristic parameters of the hydrogel fibers (inner and outer diameter, helix generation position, pitch, etc.) were achieved by adjusting the flow rate of the internal and external phases. As biocompatible materials, hydrogel fibers were endowed with electrical conductivity, temperature sensitivity, mechanical enhancement, and freeze resistance, allowing for their use as temperature sensors for human respiratory monitoring and other biomimetic application developments. The hydrogel fibers had a conductivity of up to 22.71 S/m, a response time to respiration of 37 ms, a recovery time of 1.956 s, and could improve the strength of respiration; the tensile strength at break up to 8.081 MPa, elongation at break up to 159%, and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) up to -13.080% °C-1 were better than the existing related research.

Core-shell electrospun polycaprolactone nanofibers, loaded with rifampicin and coated with silver nanoparticles, for tissue engineering applications

In the field of tissue engineering, the use of core-shell fibers represents an advantageous approach to protect and finely tune the release of bioactive compounds with the aim to regulate their efficacy. In this work, core-shell electrospun polycaprolactone nanofiber-based membranes, loaded with rifampicin and coated with silver nanoparticles, were developed and characterized. The membranes are composed by randomly oriented nanofibers with a homogeneous diameter, as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). An air-plasma treatment was applied to increase the hydrophilicity of the membranes as confirmed by contact angle measurements. The rifampicin release from untreated and air-plasma treated membranes, evaluated by UV spectrophotometry, displayed a similar and constant over-time release profile, demonstrating that the air-plasma treatment does not degrade the rifampicin, loaded in the core region of the nanofibers. The presence and the distribution of silver nanoparticles on the nanofiber surface were investigated by SEM and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Moreover, SEM imaging demonstrated that the produced membranes possess a good stability over time, in terms of structure maintenance. The developed membranes showed a good biocompatibility towards murine fibroblasts, human osteosarcoma cells and urotheliocytes, reveling the absence of cytotoxic effects. Moreover, doble-functionalized membranes inhibit the growth of E. coli and S. aureus. Thanks to the possibilities offered by the coaxial electrospinning, the membranes here proposed are promising for several tissue engineering applications.

Shell Distribution of Vitamin K3 within Reinforced Electrospun Nanofibers for Improved Photo-Antibacterial Performance.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) has attracted more attention since the outbreak of the epidemic in 2019. Advanced nano techniques, such as electrospinning, can provide new routes for developing novel PPE. However, electrospun antibacterial PPE is not easily obtained. Fibers loaded with photosensitizers prepared using single-fluid electrospinning have a relatively low utilization rate due to the influence of embedding and their inadequate mechanical properties. For this study, monolithic nanofibers and core-shell nanofibers were prepared and compared. Monolithic F1 fibers comprising polyethylene oxide (PEO), poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (PVA-co-PE), and the photo-antibacterial agent vitamin K3 (VK3) were created using a single-fluid blending process. Core-shell F2 nanofibers were prepared using coaxial electrospinning, in which the extensible material PEO was set as the core section, and a composite consisting of PEO, PVA-co-PE, and VK3 was set as the shell section. Both F1 and F2 fibers with the designed structural properties had an average diameter of approximately 1.0 μm, as determined using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. VK3 was amorphously dispersed within the polymeric matrices of F1 and F2 fibers in a compatible manner, as revealed using X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Monolithic F1 fibers had a higher tensile strength of 2.917 ± 0.091 MPa, whereas the core-shell F2 fibers had a longer elongation with a break rate of 194.567 ± 0.091%. Photoreaction tests showed that, with their adjustment, core-shell F2 nanofibers could produce 0.222 μmol/L ·OH upon illumination. F2 fibers had slightly better antibacterial performance than F1 fibers, with inhibition zones of 1.361 ± 0.012 cm and 1.296 ± 0.022 cm for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, but with less VK3. The intentional tailoring of the components and compositions of the core-shell nanostructures can improve the process-structure-performance relationship of electrospun nanofibers for potential sunlight-activated antibacterial PPE.

Multilayer Core-Shell Fiber Device for Improved Strain Sensing and Supercapacitor Applications.

1D fiber devices, known for their exceptional flexibility and seamless integration capabilities, often face trade-offs between desired wearable application characteristics and actual performance. In this study, a multilayer device composed of carbon nanotube (CNT), transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes), and cotton fibers, fabricated using a dry spinning method is presented, which significantly enhances both strain sensing and supercapacitor functionality. This core-shell fiber design achieves a record-high sensitivity (GF ≈ 4500) and maintains robust durability under various environmental conditions. Furthermore, the design approach markedly influences capacitance, correlating with the percentage of active material used. Through systematic optimization, the fiber device exhibited a capacitance 26-fold greater than that of a standard neat CNT fiber, emphasizing the crucial role of innovative design and high active material loading in improving device performance.

Enhanced multifunctional sensing in human motion with speed-controlled coaxial wet-spun hollow MWCNT-TPU/TPU smart fibers

In the field of personal health management and athletic performance optimization, the demand for multi-parameter human signal monitoring devices is rapidly increasing. Currently, flexible sensors produced through wet spinning techniques face challenges of simplistic structure and functionality, as well as difficulty in balancing strength and sensitivity. In-depth research is needed to develop high-performance wet spinning techniques, which will lay the foundation for commercial smart garments capable of unobtrusively monitoring human motion in the future. This study innovatively employs specialized slurry formulations and spinning speed controls to utilize the timing differences in fiber precipitation and the affinity among similar materials. Through the coaxial wet spinning process, it enables the continuous, large-scale manufacturing of hollow core–shell fibers, MT/T-S5, which feature a dense inner layer and a porous outer conductive layer. This special structure endows the fibers with high strength, high signal stability, and capabilities for both active and passive heating. These fibers achieve a maximum gauge factor (GF) 65.2 in stretch sensing applications and can detect pressures as low as 0.1 N. The MT/T-S5 smart fibers can sense human joint movements, and through connection with an Arduino microcontroller, they can control a robotic hand and perform independent and real-time motion detection of five fingers to distinguish gestures. This research not only provides a new type of fiber material for the development of future smart textiles but also reveals a formation mechanism for hollow core–shell fibers in the field of wet spinning. This discovery can offer valuable inspiration for fiber structural design in future research.

Facile preparation of a novel core-shell fiber S-scheme C/CoS2@BiOBr heterojunction photocatalyst for efficient degradation of Congo red under visible light

Generally, it is of great scientific significance to improve the utilization of solar energy resources. However, it is still a huge challenge at present. For this reason, the construction of photocatalysts with heterostructures is an effective way. In this paper, a novel core-shell fiber-like C/CoS2@BiOBr S-scheme heterojunction with visible light response was rationally designed by in-situ reduction of MOF through anion exchange strategy. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation and characterization analysis show that the internal electric field is formed between C/CoS2 and BiOBr after contact. This is beneficial to charge transfer and separation, and the S-sheme transfer path endows the separated electrons and holes with large redox potential to participate in the reaction directly. Moreover, the addition of BiOBr significantly enhanced the visible light absorption of the composites and improved the photochemical properties. It is worth noting that C/CoS2@BiOBr has excellent catalytic ability, and the optimal value of photodegradation of Congo red (CR) reaches more than 99 % within 15 min of visible light irradiation. Consequently, the active species were •O2- and h+. •O2- play a dominant role in the photocatalytic process. The space charge transfer and possible separation mechanisms of the new heterostructures are further proposed. This study provides some new ideas for the preparation of efficient water purification photocatalysts.

Synergistic effect of electrophysiological microenvironment and bioactive ions for enhancing bone regeneration

Bone traumatic defects, requiring a long-term healing procedure cause the destruction of physical microenvironment, remain a critical challenge in orthopedic care. Given the electrical properties and bioactive elemental composition of natural bone, electrophysical microenvironment and bioactive ions play crucial roles in regulating bone metabolism. Our study constructs an implantable electret scaffold based on coaxial electrospinning technology. The core-shell electrospun fibrous membrane (PSPC) comprising shell structure of polycaprolactone (PCL)/calcium silicate nanowires (CSNs) loading with a core of polycaprolactone/silicon dioxide (SiO2) electret. In which, the sheath of the core-shell fibers is designed to continuously release bioactive ions to stimulate osteogenesis after the fiber degrades, while the core layer is intended to provide consistent endogenous electrical stimulation for osteogenic differentiation. This battery-free and biocompatible scaffold utilizes the synergistic outcome of electrical stimulation and bioactive ions and shows the most satisfactory osteogenic efficiency both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the underlying mechanism was interpreted that electrical stimulation-driven osteogenesis was driven by the activation of Calmodulin (CaM) / Calcineurin (CaN)/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) signaling pathway. This work proposes a potential strategy to improve bone regeneration by developing a coaxial electrospun fibrous membrane that combines the synergistic benefits of electrophysical microenvironment restoration and bioactive ions.

Thermal energy storage performance of liquid polyethylene glycol in core–shell polycarbonate and reduced graphene oxide fibers

Thermal energy storage is a promising, sustainable solution for challenging energy management issues. We deploy the fabrication of the reduced graphene oxide (rGO)–polycarbonate (PC) as shell and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as core to obtain hydrophobic phase change electrospun core–shell fiber system for low-temperature thermal management application. The encapsulation ratio of PEG is controlled by controlling the core flow rate, and ~ 93% heat energy storage efficacy is apparent for 1.5 mlh−1 of core flow rate. Moreover, the prepared fiber possesses maximum latent melting and freezing enthalpy of 30.1 ± 3.7 and 25.6 ± 4.0 Jg−1, respectively. The transient dynamic temperature vs. time curve of the rGO-loaded phase change fiber demonstrates the delay of fiber surface temperature change compared to pristine fiber. We indeed show that the tunable heat transfer and thermal energy storage efficacy of phase change fiber is achieved via controlled liquid PEG delivery and the addition of rGO in shell architecture. Notably, the effectiveness of unique phase change material (PCM)–based core–shell fibers is concluded from advanced scanning thermal microscopy (SThM) and self-thermoregulation tests.

Coaxial electrohydrodynamic printing of core–shell microfibrous scaffolds with layer-specific growth factors release for enthesis regeneration

The rotator cuff tear has emerged as a significant global health concern. However, existing therapies fail to fully restore the intricate bone-to-tendon gradients, resulting in compromised biomechanical functionalities of the reconstructed enthesis tissues. Herein, a tri-layered core–shell microfibrous scaffold with layer-specific growth factors (GFs) release is developed using coaxial electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing for in situ cell recruitment and differentiation to facilitate gradient enthesis tissue repair. Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is loaded in the shell, while basic fibroblast GF, transforming GF-beta, and bone morphogenetic protein-2 are loaded in the core of the EHD-printed microfibrous scaffolds in a layer-specific manner. Correspondingly, the tri-layered microfibrous scaffolds have a core–shell fiber size of (25.7 ± 5.1) μm, with a pore size sequentially increasing from (81.5 ± 4.6) μm to (173.3 ± 6.9) μm, and to (388.9 ± 6.9 μm) for the tenogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic instructive layers. A rapid release of embedded GFs is observed within the first 2 d, followed by a faster release of SDF-1 and a slightly slower release of differentiation GFs for approximately four weeks. The coaxial EHD-printed microfibrous scaffolds significantly promote stem cell recruitment and direct their differentiation toward tenocyte, chondrocyte, and osteocyte phenotypes in vitro. When implanted in vivo, the tri-layered core–shell microfibrous scaffolds rapidly restored the biomechanical functions and promoted enthesis tissue regeneration with native-like bone-to-tendon gradients. Our findings suggest that the microfibrous scaffolds with layer-specific GFs release may offer a promising clinical solution for enthesis regeneration.

Delivery of TGFβ3 from Magnetically Responsive Coaxial Fibers Reduces Spinal Cord Astrocyte Reactivity In Vitro.

A spinal cord injury (SCI) compresses the spinal cord, killing neurons and glia at the injury site and resulting in prolonged inflammation and scarring that prevents regeneration. Astrocytes, the main glia in the spinal cord, become reactive following SCI and contribute to adverse outcomes. The anti-inflammatory cytokine transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGFβ3) has been shown to mitigate astrocyte reactivity; however, the effects of prolonged TGFβ3 exposure on reactive astrocyte phenotype have not yet been explored. This study investigates whether magnetic core-shell electrospun fibers can be used to alter the release rate of TGFβ3 using externally applied magnetic fields, with the eventual application of tailored drug delivery based on SCI severity. Magnetic core-shell fibers are fabricated by incorporating superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) into the shell and TGFβ3 into the core solution for coaxial electrospinning. Magnetic field stimulation increased the release rate of TGFβ3 from the fibers by 25% over 7 days and released TGFβ3 reduced gene expression of key astrocyte reactivity markers by at least twofold. This is the first study to magnetically deliver bioactive proteins from magnetic fibers and to assess the effect of sustained release of TGFβ3 on reactive astrocyte phenotype.

Electrospun matrices for sustained drug release made by a PCL-chitosan blend shell and a PVA core

Core-shell electrospinning is a versatile technique for tissue engineering applications due to the possibility of uploading drugs in the core layer. The drug is protected by the shell layer that also allows its release by diffusion. The aim of the present work is the development of a drug release system for the release of doxorubicin, a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used for osteosarcoma treatment. In core–shell fibres, polycaprolactone (PCL) is often proposed for the shell layer as it is bioresorbable and biocompatible, but it is hydrophobic and lacks adhesive sites for cellular attachment. In this work, a PCL-chitosan blend was used for the shell layer to increase PCL hydrophilicity and to provide cell-recognition sites to support cell adhesion. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has been used for the core layer and doxorubicin was introduced with a concentration of 100 µg/mL. Core-shell fibres of dimension of 300–500 nm were successfully obtained and doxorubicin was released in a sustained way up to 28 days.

Fabrication of multi-sensory Ti3C2Tx MXene/Nylon 6 composite fibers via interfacial deposition method

Here, we present a composite material in the form of Ti3C2Tx MXene/nylon 6 (MPA6) core-shell fibers. These fibers were synthesized through a process involving the systematic stacking of Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets to form a continuous film via interfacial self-assembly, followed by coating onto the surface of nylon 6 fibers. Notably, despite a minimal MXene coating of just 1.53 wt%, the MPA6 fibers exhibit remarkable electrical conductivity, reaching 11.39 ± 2.51 S/cm. The interwoven conductive network within the fabric's fibers contributes to its exceptional properties, including rapid response time (with a response time of 63 ms during pressing behavior), fatigue resistance (maintaining a stable response over 300 cycles), and consistent reproducibility of response during repeated cycles. With its increased sensitivity to various human activities, this composite fiber is well-suited for use as a wearable personal activity monitor. Additionally, its exceptional sensitivity to gravitational objects makes it a valuable tool for gravity detection, capable of detecting changes as small as 1 g.

Electrospinning Nonspinnable Sols to Ceramic Fibers and Springs.

Electrospinning has been applied to produce ceramic fibers using sol gel-based spinning solutions consisting of ceramic precursors, a solvent, and a polymer to control the viscosity of the solution. However, the addition of polymers to the spinning solution makes the process more complex, increases the processing time, and results in porous mechanically weak ceramic fibers. Herein, we develop a coelectrospinning technique, where a nonspinnable sol (<10 mPa s) consisting of only the ceramic precursor(s) and solvent(s) is encapsulated inside a polymeric shell, forming core-shell precursor fibers that are further calcined into ceramic fibers with reduced porosity, decreased surface defects, uniform crystal packing, and controlled diameters. We demonstrate the versatility of this method by applying it to a series of nonspinnable sols and creating high-quality ceramic fibers containing TiO2, ZrO2, SiO2, and Al2O3. The polycrystalline TiO2 fibers possess excellent flexibility and a high Young's modulus reaching 54.3 MPa, solving the extreme brittleness problem of the previously reported TiO2 fibers. The single-component ZrO2 fibers exhibit a Young's modulus and toughness of 130.5 MPa and 11.9 KJ/m3, respectively, significantly superior to the counterparts prepared by conventional sol-gel electrospinning. We also report the creation of ceramic fibers in micro- and nanospring morphologies and examine the formation mechanisms using thermomechanical simulations. The fiber assemblies constructed by the helical fibers exhibit a density-normalized toughness of 3.5-5 times that of the straight fibers due to improved fracture strain. This work expands the selection of the electrospinning solution and enables the development of ceramic fibers with more attractive properties.

A Highly Sensitive and Stretchable Core-Shell Fiber Sensor for Gesture Recognition and Surface Pressure Distribution Monitoring.

This work reports a highly-strain flexible fiber sensor with a core-shell structure utilizes a unique swelling diffusion technique to infiltrate carbon nanotubes (CNTs) into the surface layer of Ecoflex fibers. Compared with traditional blended Ecoflex/CNTs fibers, this manufacturing process ensures that the sensor maintains the mechanical properties (923% strain) of the Ecoflex fiber while also improving sensitivity (gauge factor is up to 3716). By adjusting the penetration time during fabrication, the sensor can be customized for different uses. As an application demonstration, the fiber sensor is integrated into the glove to develop a wearable gesture language recognition system with high sensitivity and precision. Additionally, the authors successfully monitor the pressure distribution on the curved surface of a soccer ball by winding the fiber sensor along the ball's surface.

Application of AIE luminogen-loaded core–shell fibers in self-warning and self-healing polymer coatings with enhanced corrosion resistance

Aggregation-induced emission (AIE) materials have been used for non-destructive visual detection of cracks and damages to prevent the final structural failure and increase the service life of coatings. In this study, a self-warning and self-healing core–shell fiber is synthesized for developing AIE composite coatings. In these core–shell fibers, a mixture of hmethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and tetraphenylethylene (TPE) is used as core constituent, and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is used for preparing the shell, which are continuously wrapped with a high loading rate through coaxial electrospinning technology. The parameters of electrospinning process are optimized to achieve core–shell fibers with smooth surface and average diameter of 100 ± 50 nm. The composite coating reveals effective fluorescence in case of cracks in a corrosive environment. The maximum self-healing efficiency of the fiber coating is 94.8 % after soaking for 120 h. The introduced composite coating paves the way for improving the safety and reliability of critical engineering components.

Washable and stable coaxial electrospinning fabric with superior electromagnetic interference shielding performance for multifunctional electronics

There is an urgent need for multifunctional and wearable smart devices to address the growing environmental impact on the human body, especially for pregnant women. However, it is big challenge to explore fabric combined multi-functions, such as EMI shielding, electrical therapy and biomotion detection while maintaining their intrinsic durability and washability. Here, we have employed an efficient coaxial electrospinning technique, followed by Ag precursor reduction and polydimethylsiloxane spraying to fabricate a multifunctional film which contains core–shell fibers with polyurethane/carbon nanotube (CNT) as core and polyurethane/Fe3O4 as shell. The CNT and the Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) form double conductive network for EMI shielding, electrical heating and biological motion detection. The Fe3O4 provides magnetic loss and helps the fibers to provide rich attachment sites for AgNPs. The obtained film has an excellent combination of high EMI SE (110.0 dB in X-band), large Joule heating (up to 230 °C at 3 V), good sensing performance and large sensing range of 230 % strain. In addition, it showed an extremely superior durability and stability in complex conditions, good breathability and wash stability, ensuring the comfort wearing. This study offers an outstanding paradigm to construct next generation intelligent fabric combined versatility, stability and wearing comfort for protection of pregnant women and military solider.

Multifunctional embelin- poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) and sodium alginate-based core-shell electrospun nanofibrous mat for wound healing applications

In this study, coaxial electrospinning is employed to make core-shell fibers, which represents a major advance in biomaterial innovation. Fibers that combine a protective shell and a therapeutic agent-loaded core, herald a revolutionary era in tissue engineering and wound care. Besides supporting cell growth, these fibers also preserve sterility, which makes them ideal for advanced wound dressings. We used embelin as the basis for this study because of its natural antibacterial properties. Its effectiveness in inhibiting the growth of bacteria made it the ideal candidate for our research. We have synthesized core-shell nanofibers that contain Sodium Alginate (SAL) in a Poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) shell and Embelin in a Poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) (PHB) core, which exhibit the homogeneity and flawless structure required for biomedical applications. When using SAL-PEO and EMB-PHB solutions dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP), high consistency in results can be achieved. A biocompatibility study was conducted using NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, which demonstrated remarkable adhesion and proliferation, with over 95 % growth supporting both PHB + SAL-PEO and EMB-PHB + SAL-PEO fibers. In addition, the scaffold loaded with Embelin shows strong antibacterial activity and cytocompatibility. The combined activity demonstrates the potential of EMB-PHB + SAL-PEO fibers in wound healing, where tissue regeneration and preservation of sterility are crucial. The optimized concentration of Embelin within these scaffolds demonstrates robust antibacterial efficacy while exhibiting minimal toxicity, thus positioning them as highly promising candidates for a wide range of biological applications, including wound healing.

Interfacial blending in co-axially electrospun polymer core-shell fibers and their interaction with cells via focal adhesion point analysis

Electrospun polymer scaffolds have gained prominence in biomedical applications, including tissue engineering, drug delivery, and wound dressings, due to their customizable properties. As the interplay between cells and materials assumes fundamental significance in biomaterials research, understanding the relationship between fiber properties and cell behaviour is imperative. Nevertheless, altering fiber properties introduces complexity by intertwining mechanical and surface chemistry effects, challenging the differentiation of their individual impacts on cell behaviour. Core-shell fibers present an appealing solution, enabling the control of mechanical properties of scaffolds, flexibility in material and drug selection, efficient encapsulation, strong protection of bioactive drugs against harsh environments, and controlled, prolonged drug release. This study addresses a key challenge in core-shell fiber design related to the blending effect between core and shell polymers. Two types of fibers, PMMA and core-shell PC-PMMA, were electrospun, and thorough analyses confirmed the desired core-shell structure in PC-PMMA fibers. Surface chemistry analysis revealed PC diffusion to the PMMA shell of the core-shell fiber during electrospinning, subsequently prompting an investigation of the fiber’s surface potential. Conducting cellular studies on osteoblasts by super-resolution confocal microscopy provided insights into the direct influence of interfacial polymer blending and, consequently, altered fiber surface and mechanical properties on cell focal adhesion points, bridging the gap between material attributes and cell responses in core-shell fibers.

Coaxial Electrospinning of CoS1.097@C Core–Shell Fibers Anode Material for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries

As an important component that affects the storage performance of sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), novel anode materials still need to be well explored. Herein, CoS1.097@C core–shell fibers as anode material were designed via coaxial electrospinning, stabilization, and carbonization. Specially, CoS1.097 powders are distributed in the inner shell of carbon fibers, and sufficient pore spaces are present among themselves. The unique encapsulation structure, porous characteristics, and one-dimensional conductive carbon shell can enable the CoS1.097@C core–shell fibers’ high initial specific capacity, excellent rate capability, and long cycle life. The initial charge and discharge capacities of the electrode at 50 mA g−1 are 386.0 and 830.9 mAh g−1, respectively. After 2000 cycles at 500 mA g−1, the discharge capacity is 216.3 mAh g−1. Even at 3000 mA g−1, the rate capacity can be maintained at 83.3 mAh g−1.

Piezoelectric core-shell fibrous scaffolds of PVDF-ZnO/PCL for bone regeneration

One promising approach to improve bone regeneration is the use of piezoelectric scaffolds, which can positively affect cell growth and proliferation. PVDF, as a piezoelectric polymer, is an attractive candidate for use as a bone scaffold. However, other components should be added to PVDF to improve wettability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and other biological properties. In this research, PVDF containing ZnO-PCL core-shell fiber composites were fabricated by coaxial electrospinning. TEM images were used to determine the proper electrospinning parameters that can provide a homogenous core/shell structure. Afterward, the surface of the samples was corona-treated to improve wettability. FTIR spectroscopy was used to estimate the piezoelectric β phase fraction in the core PVDF fibers, which demonstrated that the highest β phase fraction was obtained in the presence of 0.5 wt% ZnO nanoparticles. The tensile test results revealed that by adding ZnO nanoparticles to the scaffolds, the ultimate tensile strength of samples decreased, yet the values were in the acceptable range. The water contact angle measurements showed that the corona treatment could successfully reduce the contact angle from about 130° to 60°. Based on the obtained results, the F-0.5Z sample was chosen as the optimum sample and was used for biological and piezoelectric assessments. It rendered the piezoelectric output of 6.5 pC/N. In vitro assessments showed that this sample is biodegradable and bioactive, could support cell attachment and proliferation and intensified calcium mineralization. The composite containing 0.5 wt% ZnO had the best result and could be used as a scaffold in bone regeneration and repair.