Wet electrospinning of 3D nanofiber poly(lactic) acid scaffolds for tissue engineering applications: Fabrication and characterization

Authors
S. Ghorbani 1
T. Tirahi 1
M. Soleimani 2
S. Pour Beiranvand 1
1 Department of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Objective: Tissue engineering, as an interdisciplinary field, assists cell therapy by using scaffolds, cells, and growth factors since 30 years ago. Cells isolated from the body should be supported by a scaffold which could mimic the function and structure of natural extracellular matrix (ECM). To accomplish this goal, we have fabricated and characterized synthetic wet electrospun poly(lactic) acid (PLA) scaffolds.
Methods: ThePLA polymer was used at various concentrations (10%, 13%, 15%, 17%, 20% w/v) with a novel architecture produced by a wet-electrospinning process for tissue engineering applications. In the wet electrospinning method, we used an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as the coagulation bath. Then, we characterized the biocompatibility and morphology of these scaffolds by the MTT assay and SEM, respectively.
Results: The data collected from the characterization of scaffolds and in vitro human Wharton’s jelly-derived stem cells/scaffold culture showed that the 15% w/v of PLA with high porosity was the best polymer concentration in terms of cell attachment and proliferation.
Conclusion:Electrospinning PLA at the 10% or 20% w/v concentrations was difficult. Additionally, they could not provide a favorable matrix for cell proliferation and attachment. However, the results have suggested that the novel nanofiber fabrication system would be very useful for the structure control of 3D nanofiber fabrics.

Keywords

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Pathobiology Reserach
Volume 20, Issue 2
August 2017
Pages 49-61