Preparation and characterization of poly ε-caprolactone-gelatin/multi-walled carbon nanotubes electrospun scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Designing scaffolds with appropriate mechanical properties is a challenge in tissue engineering. In this study the poly ε-caprolactone (PCL)/gelatin with 1 wt.% of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) fabricated through electrospinning method. The presence of MWNTs led to an increase in the hydrophilicity and tensile strength, while maintaining an appropriate level of porosity percentage. The bioactivity and biodegradation evaluation demonstrated that the scaffolds containing MWNTs presented more bioactivity and slower degradation rate. Cell culture study showed that the nanocomposite scaffolds did not have any cytotoxicity. According to the results, the PCL-gelatin/MWNTs nanocomposite scaffold can be appropriate for cartilage tissue engineering applications.

Graphical Abstract

keywords:

• Electrospinning
• gelatin
• multi-walled carbon nanotubes
• poly ε-caprolactone
• scaffold

Acknowledgment

The authors extend their thanks to Iran’s National Elites Foundation of Tehran (Tehran, Iran), Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies (University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran), biomaterial laboratory of School of Advance Technology in Medicine (Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran) and fibers physical laboratory of department of textile engineering (Isfahan University of technology, Isfahan, Iran) who provided the means for this experiment.