title: Electrospun micro/nanofibrous conduits composed of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) and small intestine submucosa powder for nerve tissue regeneration.
abstract: Three-dimensional biocompatible and biodegradable scaffolds play important roles in tissue engineering. In this study, fibrous mats composed of electrospun poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL)/small intestine submucosa (SIS) tubes were fabricated with a high degree of longitudinal alignment as a conduit for peripheral nerves. Fourier transform infrared analyses of electrospun PCL/SIS mats with various amounts of SIS showed that the SIS was well embedded within the PCL matrix. The diameter of the PCL/SIS fibers with the 3 wt % of SIS in the PCL solution decreased 40% relative to that of pure PCL fibers due to increased electrical conductivity and decreased surface tension. PCL/SIS (3 wt %) electrospun mats exhibited various synergistic effects, including stronger mechanical properties (Young's modulus = more than 80%) and enhanced hydrophilicity (water contact angle at 30 min = 54 degrees ) relative to pure PCL (water contact angle at 30 min = 142 degrees ). Cell attachment and proliferation experiments demonstrated that the interactions between nerve cells (PC-12) and the PCL/SIS conduits were more favorable than those between PC-12 cells and a pure PCL conduit. This study contributes to the understanding of the effects of including SIS in electrospun composite mats. The ability to fabricate highly aligned tubes of PCL/SIS with appropriate mechanical properties and cellular interactions shows great potential for the design of nerve regeneration conduits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bio/Nanofluidics Laboratory, Chosun University, 375 Seoseok-dong, Dong-gu, Gwang-ju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soongee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Bio/Nanofluidics Laboratory, Chosun University, 375 Seoseok-dong, Dong-gu, Gwang-ju, Korea.
authors.forename: Geunhyung
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D048091:Guided Tissue Regeneration / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000294:innervation*; D007421:Intestine, Small; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D011091:Polyesters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011208:Powders / Q000737:chemistry; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011208:Powders; C016240:polycaprolactone