Fabrication and characterization ofchitosan‐gelatin/single‐walledcarbon nanotubes electrospun composite scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Cartilage is a connective tissue with a slow healing rate due to lack in blood circulation and slow metabolism. Designing tissue engineering scaffolds modified based on its specific features can assist its natural regeneration process. In this study, the chitosan-gelatin/single-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized by COOH (SWNTs-COOH) nanocomposite scaffolds were fabricated through electrospinning. The effect of each component and different duration of cross-linking were assessed in terms of morphology, porosity, chemical structure, thermal behavior, mechanical properties, wettability, biodegradability, and in vitro cell culture study. Adding SWNTs-COOH decreased fiber diameter, water contact angle and degradation rate while increased tensile strength, hydrophilicity, stability and cell viability, due to their high intrinsic electrical conductivity, and mechanical properties and the presence of COOH functional groups in its structure. All the sample presented a porosity percentage of more than 80%, which is essential for tissue engineering scaffolds. The presence SWNTs-COOH did not have any adverse effect on cytocompatibility. The optimal crosslinking time increased the stability of the scaffolds in PBS. It can be concluded that the chitosan-gelatin/1wt% SWNTs-COOH scaffold can be appropriate for cartilage tissue engineering applications.

Electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery applications: Methods and mechanism

“…Electrospinning technique is considered a useful method for the fabrication of nanofiber materials. During the past decades, electrospinning was found to have numerous biomedical applications as tissue engineering, 28–30 sensing and drug delivery systems 6,30 as well as industrial applications such as in textile industries 31 …”

Biomimetic approach to articular cartilage tissue engineering using carbon nanotube–coated and textured polydimethylsiloxane scaffolds

“…[14][15][16][17][18] Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as a promising contender as scaffolds for the production of engineered cartilage. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] This is largely due to their intrinsic ability to provide fibrous nanoscale topography resembling that of the ECM, 19,20,22 simulating the immediate environment that chondrocytes interact with in vivo. The addition of nanoscale topography has been shown to increase cell adhesion 19,24 and improve chondrocyte proliferation.…”

“…23 King et al 22 demonstrated that woven textiles made from dry-spun multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) yarns led to the production of key cartilaginous components, including collagen and aggrecan. Bahrami Miyanji et al 28 found that adding SWNTs to a chitosan-gelatin scaffold improved wettability, scaffold stability, and cell viability.…”

“…Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have emerged as a promising contender as scaffolds for the production of engineered cartilage 19–29 . This is largely due to their intrinsic ability to provide fibrous nanoscale topography resembling that of the ECM, 19,20,22 simulating the immediate environment that chondrocytes interact with in vivo .…”

Investigation of the mechanical and corrosion properties of Mg-Hydroxyapatite composite by addition of rare-earth oxide particulates for biomedical applications

“…Moreover, its properties lie between polymers and permanent implants, making it an ideal implant material. 9,[15][16][17] However, the major problem with using Magnesium as a material is its rapid corrosion rate when subjected to a chloride environment; hence, accelerated degradation is witnessed even before the completion of the healing process. [18][19][20][21] Although, various reinforcements have been brought into light for enhancing the properties of the Magnesium by providing it an adequate amount of strength and resistance to corrosion.…”