Fabrication of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube nanocomposites for neural tissue regeneration

Mottaghitalab, Fatemeh; Mottaghitalab, Vahid; Farokhi, Mehdi; Amiralian, Nasim; Eslamifar, Ali; Shokrgozar, Mohammad Ali

Fabrication of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube nanocomposites for neural tissue regeneration

Authors

Fatemeh Mottaghitalab ¹

Vahid Mottaghitalab ²

Mehdi Farokhi ³

Nasim Amiralian ⁴

Ali Eslamifar ⁵

Mohammad Ali Shokrgozar ⁶

¹ M.Sc., Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Guilan University, Rasht, Iran

³ M.Sc., National Cell Bank‮ of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

⁴ M.Sc., Guilan Science and Technology Park, Rasht, Iran

⁵ Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Research, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

⁶ Associated Professor, Department of National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Nowadays, as the field of neural tissue engineering advances, the fabrication and application of combined structures open a new window of research for the regeneration of nervous system injuries. In this study, chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube nanocomposites has been exploited as scaffolds.
Materials and Methods: Electrospinning was used to fabricate chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube scaffolds. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the chemical and physical structure of the electrospun scaffolds. Then, the biocompatibility of the scaffolds was evaluated using MTT assay and Neutral red assay.
Results: The results showed that the chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube nanocomposites have suitable structural and morphological aspects for human brain-derived cells growth and proliferation. Therefore, the cells could maintain their usual morphology while adhering to the surface of the nanocomposites due to an appropriate biocompatibility of the scaffolds.
Conclusion: Chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube nanocomposites could enhance the proliferation of human brain-derived cells due to their proper structure and biocompatibility.

Keywords

Chitosan

Electrospinning

Neural tissue engineering

Poly(vinyl alcohol)

Carbon nanotube