Development of chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous PHBV guide for repair of nerve defects

Figures & data

Figure 1. The nanofibrous mat designed by electrospinning method. (A) The electrospinning set, (B) The nanofibrous PHBV mat, (C) The chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous PHBV scaffold, and (D) The rolling of nanofibrous mat using a thermal agent.

Figure 2. SEM images of the un-crosslinked nanofibrous PHBV mat (A: 5000×, B: 20000×), and the chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous PHBV mat (C: 5000×, D: 20000×).

Figure 3. SEM images of the chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous conduit. (A) The tubular conduit (45×), (B) The nanofibrous structure of designed conduit (20000×), (C) The diameter of tube wall (1000×).

Table I. The mechanical and physical properties of elecrospun PHBV mats.

Sample	C.A θ (deg)	Pore size μm	Porosity (%)	T.M (MPa)	U.T.S (MPa)
Nanofibrous mat	105 ± 3.2^o	0.45 ± 0.25	91.62	110 ± 18	5.9 ± 0.5
Chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous mat	57 ± 1.4^o	0.28 ± 0.33	79.58	35 ± 14	14.5 ± 0.1

C.A: Contact Angle; T.M: Tensile Modulus; U.T.S: Ultimate Tensile Stress.

(The data are presented as the mean values S.D, P < 0.05).

Figure 4. Cell culture on the nanofibrous mats, and the control. (A) The control (TCPS), (B) The un-modified nanofibrous PHBV mat, (C) The chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous mat.

Figure 5. SEM images of cultured Schwann cells on the nanofibrous mats. (A) The un-modified nanofibrous PHBV mat, (B) The chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous mat (Mag: 2000×).

Table II. Results of MTT assay for the un-crosslinked, and the chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous PHBV mats.

Sample	Viability%
TCPS	100
Nanofibrous mats	90
Chitosan-crosslinked nanofibrous mats	98

(The data are presented as the mean values S.D, P < 0.05.)