Modification of PCL nanofibrous scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering

Abstract

One limitation of electrospun scaffolds fabricated with synthetic polymers such as PCL is low cell affinity to them due to low hydrophilicity and lack of surface cell recognition sites. To overcome this drawback of the synthetic materials, natural polymers have been widely used to modify the synthetic material to improve the cell adhesion properties. In this study polycaprolactone (PCL) was blended with gelatin for improvement the cell adhesion and biocompatibility of PCL nanofibrous scaffolds. Fiber diameter and hydrophilicity of PCL and PCL/gelatin nanofibrous scaffolds were evaluated. In vitro cell culture study was carried out using nerve stem cells (NSCs). Proliferation and morphology of NSCs on PCL and PCL/gelatin nanofibrous scaffolds were investigated. Fiber diameter was found to decrease and hydrophilicity was found to improve with incorporation of gelatin in electrospinning solution. The results of MTS assay and SEM micrographs showed that PCL/gelatin nanofibrous scaffolds serve as better substrate for NSCs compared to PCL nanofibrous scaffolds. © 2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.