Artificial neural network for modeling the elastic modulus of electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin scaffolds.
Scaffolds for tissue engineering (TE) require the consideration of multiple aspects, including polymeric composition and the structure and mechanical properties of the scaffolds, in order to mimic the native extracellular matrix of the tissue. Electrospun fibers are frequently utilized in TE due to their tunable physical, chemical, and mechanical properties and porosity. The mechanical properties of electrospun scaffolds made from specific polymers are highly dependent on the processing parameters, which can therefore be tuned for particular applications. Fiber diameter and orientation along with polymeric composition are the major factors that determine the elastic modulus of electrospun nano- and microfibers. Here we have developed a neural network model to investigate the simultaneous effects of composition, fiber diameter and fiber orientation of electrospun polycaprolactone/gelatin mats on the elastic modulus of the scaffolds under ambient and simulated physiological conditions. The model generated might assist bioengineers to fabricate electrospun scaffolds with defined fiber diameters, orientations and constituents, thereby replicating the mechanical properties of the native target tissue.
Department of Textile Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran; Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, E3-05-14, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
Elham
E
Vatankhah
Department of Textile Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran.
Dariush
D
Semnani
Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, E3-05-14, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576, Singapore. Electronic address: nnimpp@nus.edu.sg.
Molamma P
MP
Prabhakaran
Behrad Consulting Engineers, Isfahan 81367-13833, Iran.
Mahdi
M
Tadayon
Department of Anatomical Sciences and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81744-176, Iran.
Shahnaz
S
Razavi
Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, E3-05-14, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576, Singapore; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
Seeram
S
Ramakrishna
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012044:Regression Analysis; D034421:Sus scrofa; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; C016240:polycaprolactone; D005780:Gelatin
Artificial neural network model; Elastic modulus; Electrospun scaffold; Fiber diameter; Orientation