Fabrication, characterization, and biocompatibility assessment of a novel elastomeric nanofibrous scaffold: A potential scaffold for soft tissue engineering

Abstract

With regard to flexibility and strength properties requirements of soft biological tissue, elastomeric materials could be more beneficial in soft tissue engineering applications. The present work investigates the use of an elastic polymer, (polycaprolactone fumarate [PCLF]), for fabricating an electrospun scaffold. PCLF with number-average molecular weight of 13,284 g/mol was synthetized, electrospun PCLF:polycaprolactone (PCL) (70:30) nanofibrous scaffolds were fabricated and a novel strategy (in situ photo-crosslinking along with wet electrospinning) was applied for crosslinking of PCLF in the structure of PCLF:PCL nanofibers was presented. Sol fraction results, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and mechanical tests confirmed occurrence of crosslinking reaction. Strain at break and Young's modulus of crosslinked PCLF:PCL nanofibers fabricated was found to be 114.5 ± 3.9% and 0.6 ± 0.1 MPa, respectively, and dynamic mechanical analysis results revealed elasticity of nanofibers. MTS assay showed biocompatibility of PCLF:PCL (70:30) nanofibrous scaffolds. Our overall results showed that electrospun PCLF:PCL nanofibrous scaffold could be considered as a candidate for further in vitro and in vivo experiments and its application for engineering of soft tissues subjected to in vivo cyclic mechanical stresses. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 2371-2383, 2018.

Electrospun hybrid nanofibrous meshes with adjustable performance for potential use in soft tissue engineering

“…In addition, the peak at 1471 cm −1 pertained to CH 2 bending vibration, and the four peaks at 1364, 1240, 1166, and 1049 cm −1 were assigned to C-O stretching vibration. 49,50 The pure PPDO nanofibrous meshes included several characteristic peaks at 2914, 1739, 1432, 1294, 1128, and 1052 cm −1 , which were assigned to C-H stretching vibration, C=O stretching vibration, the CH 2 bending vibration absorption peak, and C=O the stretching vibration absorption peak, respectively. 31 Importantly, all of the above-mentioned characteristic peaks for PCL and PPDO components were observed in the three PCL/PPDO nanofibrous meshes with different PCL/PPDO mass ratios.…”

Electrospinning based on benign solvents: current definitions, implications and strategies

“…Furthermore, a recent study has shown that the UV-spinning onto a plate collector submerged in a solvent for the un-cross-linked materials can lead to strikingly different mechanical properties compared to the more conventional “dry” UV ES. 204 This aspect can also further contribute to expanding the range of mechanical properties achievable with the desired polymer network.…”

Polarity as a physiological modulator of cell function

“…Scaffolds with tailored substrates are another way to create three dimensional (3D) structures which guide cell phenotype. These scaffolds can be made of various materials, such as polymers, ceramics or metals and scaffold design should be customized for the biological environment being mimicked and the cell type used (70)(71)(72). As an example, Granziano et al used scaffolds with tailored surface geometry to polarize dental pulp stem cells to enhance differentiation as well as proliferation (73).…”