title: Electrospun biodegradable nanofibrous mats for tissue engineering.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, a microbial polyester, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co- 3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), and its blends were electrospun into PHBV (10% w/v), PHBV (15% w/v), PHBV-PLLA (5% w/v), PHBV-PLGA (50:50) (15% w/v) and PHBV-P(L,DL)LA (5% w/v) fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Various processing parameters affected the morphology and the dimensions of beads formed on the fibers. Concentration was highly influential on fiber properties; as it increased from 5 to 15% (w/v), fiber diameter increased from 284 +/- 133 nm to 2200 +/- 716 nm. Increase in potential (from 20 to 50 kV) did not lead to the expected decrease in fiber diameter. The blends of PHBV with lactide-based polymers led to fibers with less beads and more uniform diameter. The surface porosities for PHBV10, PHBV15, PHBV-PLLA, PHBV-PLGA (50:50) and PHBV-P(L,DL)LA were 38.0 +/- 3.8, 40.1 +/- 8.5, 53.8 +/- 4.2, 50.0 +/- 4.2 and 30.8 +/- 2.7%, respectively. In vitro studies using human osteosarcoma cells (Saos-2) revealed that the electrospun scaffolds promoted cell growth and penetration. Surface modification with oxygen plasma treatment slightly improved the improved the results in terms of cell number increase and significantly improved spreading of the cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All scaffolds prepared by electrospinning have implied significant potential for use in further studies leading to bone tissue engineering applications. The PHBV-PLLA blend appeared to yield the best results regarding cell number increase, their attachment and spreading inside and on the scaffold.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. ndreualbana@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Albana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ndreu
authors.forename: Lila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nikkola
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ylikauppila
authors.forename: Nureddin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ashammakhi
authors.forename: Vasif
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hasirci
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry; D012399:Rotation; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters