Biocompatible electrically conductive nanofibers from inorganic-organic shape memory polymers.
A porous shape memory scaffold with both biomimetic structures and electrical conductivity properties is highly promising for nerve tissue engineering applications. In this study, a new shape memory polyurethane polymer which consists of inorganic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) segments with organic poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) segments was synthesized. Based on this poly(PCL/PDMS urethane), a series of electrically conductive nanofibers were electrospun by incorporating different amounts of carbon-black. Our results showed that after adding carbon black into nanofibers, the fiber diameters increased from 399±76 to 619±138nm, the crystallinity decreased from 33 to 25% and the resistivity reduced from 3.6 GΩ/mm to 1.8 kΩ/mm. Carbon black did not significantly influence the shape memory properties of the resulting nanofibers, and all the composite nanofibers exhibited decent shape recovery ratios of >90% and shape fixity ratios of >82% even after 5 thermo-mechanical cycles. PC12 cells were cultured on the shape memory nanofibers and the composite scaffolds showed good biocompatibility by promoting cell-cell interactions. Our study demonstrated that the poly(PCL/PDMS urethane)/carbon-black nanofibers with shape memory properties could be potentially used as smart 4-dimensional (4D) scaffolds for nerve tissue regeneration.
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: kaid@imre.a-star.edu.sg.
Dan
D
Kai
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore, Singapore.
Mein Jin
MJ
Tan
Centre for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, Singapore.
Molamma P
MP
Prabhakaran
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Singapore, Singapore.
Benjamin Qi Yu
BQY
Chan
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore, Singapore.
Sing Shy
SS
Liow
Centre for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, 2 Engineering Drive 3, Singapore, Singapore; Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration (GHMICR), Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
Seeram
S
Ramakrishna
Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 2 Fusionopolis Way, #08-03 Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore, Singapore; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117575, Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Eye Research Institute, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168751, Singapore, Singapore. Electronic address: lohxj@imre.a-star.edu.sg.
Xian Jun
XJ
Loh
D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D002450:Cell Communication; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011140:Polyurethanes / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D051381:Rats; D053260:Soot / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds / Q000737:chemistry
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D011091:Polyesters; D011140:Polyurethanes; D053260:Soot; C016240:polycaprolactone; C013830:baysilon
4D scaffolds; Carbon black; Electroactive materials; Electrospinning; Nerve regeneration