Physical, mechanical and biological evaluation of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate)-chitosan/MWNTs as a novel electrospun scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering applications

ABSTRACT

Designing scaffolds with appropriate mechanical properties is a challenge in tissue engineering. In this study, electrospun scaffolds were fabricated by mixing different percent of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) with poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)-chitosan solution. Scanning electron microscopy of the scaffolds revealed bead-free nanofibers with pore volume of 83%, which had a direct relationship with fiber diameter. The nanocomposite scaffolds exhibited higher hydrophilicity and lower degradation rate due to the presence of MWNTs. The tensile strength of scaffolds improved significantly in the presence of MWNTs (about three-fold higher than PHB-chitosan). Chondrocyte culture study showed better cell adhesion and growth in nanocomposite scaffolds.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Electrospinning
• scaffold
• polyhydroxybutyrate
• multi-walled carbon nanotubes
• chitosan

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Z. Mohammadalizadeh

Z. Mohammadalizadeh received her BSc degree in Microbiology from Alzahra University, Iran, in 2013 and MS degree in Biomedical Engineering (biomaterials) from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2016. She is now looking forward to a proper Ph.D. position. Her research interests include Carbon nanotubes, cartilage and bone tissue engineering, surface characterization and nanobiomaterials.

S. Karbasi

S. Karbasi received his BSc degree in Material Engineering from Shiraz University, Iran, in 1994 and MS and Ph.D. degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Amirkabir University, Iran, in 1997 and 2005, respectively. He is currently a full professor at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. His research interests include biomaterials, tissue engineering, and nanobiomaterials.

S. Arasteh

S. Arasteh received her Master of Engineering and Master of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering and Biochemical Engineering from The University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, in 2008 and 2010 respectively. She was a research assistant in the Avicenna research institute, Iran, for nearly 6 years.