In this work, the biocompatible and biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) was synthesized by a ring‐opening synthesis mechanism. To improve the mechanical and biological properties of the polymer, electrospun nanocomposite scaffolds were prepared using halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as the reinforcing agent with the concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% (w/w) of PCL. PCL‐HNTs composites were prepared as fibrous nanomats by electrospinning method. The morphology and wettability of the electrospun PCL‐HNTs nanomats were investigated by scanning electron microscope images and water contact angel measurement and based on the structure of the fibers, fibers diameter and higher wettability, the PCL‐HNT composite containing 5% (w/w) of halloysite nanotubes (PCL + 5%HNTs) was selected as the proper composite and its application as tissue engineering scaffold was studied. The mechanical properties of the PCL + 5%HNTs composite was 2.6 times higher than that of PCL, as well as, comparatively higher thermal stability. To improve the antibacterial properties, HNTs were loaded with gentamycin sulfate (GM) prior to electrospinning and the PCl + 5%HNTs+GM composite were prepared and studied. The drug release profile showed that by the incorporation of HNTs into the PCL based composites, slow drug release was continued for 164 h, while neat HNTs were completed the drug release after 8 h. The GM loaded composite scaffold showed a high antibacterial effect for Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli. Adequate cell growth environment was provided by PCL + 5%HNTs, as indicated by the biocompatibility and protein adsorption test results. The hemolytic assay results showed a higher hemolysis value for the HNTs‐containing sample, but still lower than 5%.

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was functionalized with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to understand the effect of PEGlayted GO on properties of chitosan‐based nanocomposite scaffold. GO was synthesized according to modified Hummer's method and covalently linked to polymeric chains of PEG to produce polyethylene glycolated GO (PGO). Successful preparation of GO and PGO was confirmed by FT‐IR and Raman techniques, where the chemical bonding of PEG and GO nanosheets were concluded based on PGOs' lower zeta potential compared to GO. Nanocomposite scaffolds were prepared by adding equal amounts of GO and PGO into 2% (w/v) chitosan (Cs) solutions. The highly porous scaffolds were developed by lyophilization of solutions. Incorporation of GO and PGO into chitosan scaffold network resulted in uniform and spherical pores. Modified samples offered higher porosity and density, indicating adequate scaffold structure. Improvements in the physical properties of prepared chitosan scaffolds were concluded through higher water absorption and retention values. Compressive strength measurement showed 6.33 and 5.5 times improvement respectively for Cs‐GO and Cs‐PGO samples compared to Cs scaffold. The Cs‐GO scaffolds showed minimum susceptibility toward enzymatic degradation and higher degrees of protein adsorption (26% and 23% improvement in value of adsorbed protein respectively for Cs‐GO and Cs‐PGO compared to Cs scaffold) and biomineral formation on scaffold surface. Also, Cs‐PGO sample showed the highest degree of cell viability and lower hemolysis than both Cs and Cs‐GO scaffolds. Investigations showed that cell infiltration into scaffold porous structure was more prominent in Cs‐PGO scaffolds than in Cs and Cs‐GO scaffolds.