title: Preparation, characterisation, and in vitro evaluation of electrically conducting poly(ɛ-caprolactone)-based nanocomposite scaffolds using PC12 cells.
abstract: In the current study, we describe the synthesis, material characteristics, and cytocompatibility of conducting poly (ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL)-based nano-composite films. Electrically conducting carbon nano-fillers (carbon nano-fiber (CNF), nano-graphite (NG), and liquid exfoliated graphite (G)) were used to prepare porous film type scaffolds using modified solvent casting methods. The electrical conductivity of the nano-composite films was increased when carbon nano-fillers were incorporated in the PCL matrix. CNF-based nano-composite films showed the highest increase in electrical conductivity. The presence of an ionic solution significantly improved the conductivity of some of the polymers, however at least 24 h was required to absorb the simulated ion solutions. CNF-based nano-composite films were found to have good thermo-mechanical properties compared to other conducting polymer films due to better dispersion and alignment in the critical direction. Increased nano-filler content increased the crystallisation temperature. Analysis of cell viability revealed no increase in cell death on any of the polymers compared to tissue culture plastic controls, or compared to PCL polymer without nano-composites. The scaffolds showed some variation when tested for PC12 cell attachment and proliferation, however all the polymers supported PC12 attachment and differentiation in the absence of cell adhesion molecules. In general, CNF-based nano-composite films with highest electrical conductivity and moderate roughness showed highest cell attachment and proliferation. These polymers are promising candidates for use in neural applications in the area of bionics and tissue engineering due to their unique properties.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Textile and Polymer Research Lab, PSG Institute of Advanced Studies, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Janarthanan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gopinathan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Neurosciences and Neurological Research, St. Vincent's Hospital, Victoria, 3065, Australia.|ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, 2500, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, 3065, Australia.
authors.forename: Anita F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.affiliation: Advanced Textile and Polymer Research Lab, PSG Institute of Advanced Studies, Coimbatore, India.
authors.forename: Amitava
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhattacharyya
authors.affiliation: College of Design and Social Context, Centre for Advanced Materials and Performance Textiles, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3056, Australia.
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Padhye
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Neurosciences and Neurological Research, St. Vincent's Hospital, Victoria, 3065, Australia.|ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, Innovation Campus, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, 2500, Australia.|Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, 3065, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert M I
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kapsa
authors.affiliation: College of Design and Social Context, Centre for Advanced Materials and Performance Textiles, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3056, Australia.
authors.forename: Rajkishore
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nayak
authors.affiliation: College of Science, Engineering and Health, School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Shanks
authors.affiliation: College of Design and Social Context, Centre for Advanced Materials and Performance Textiles, School of Fashion and Textiles, RMIT University, Melbourne, 3056, Australia.
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Houshyar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002208:Caproates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D007783:Lactones / Q000737:chemistry*; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002208:Caproates; D007783:Lactones; D011108:Polymers; C121056:caprolactone; D006108:Graphite
keywords: PC12 cells; carbon nanofiber; exfoliated graphite; nanocomposite films; nanographite; neural differentiation; poly(ɛ-caprolactone)