Fabrication of conductive polymer-based nanofiber scaffolds for tissue engineering applications

J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2014 Oct;14(10):7621-6. doi: 10.1166/jnn.2014.9575.

Abstract

Natural and synthetic polymers, in particular those that are conductive, are of great interest in the field of tissue engineering and the pursuit of biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) structures for adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of cells. In the present study, natural chitin and conductive polyaniline (PANi) blended solutions were electrospun to produce biodegradable and conductive biomimetic nanostructured scaffolds. The chitin/PANi (Chi-PANi) nanofibrous materials were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, wettability analysis, mechanical testing, and electrical conductivity measurements using a 4-point probe method. The calculated electrical conductivities of the PANi-containing nanofiber scaffolds significantly increased as the amount of PANi increased, reaching 5.21 ± 0.28 x 10(-3) S/cm for 0.3 wt% content of the conducting polymer. In addition, the viability of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) cultured on the Chi-PANi nanofiber scaffolds in vitro was found to be excellent. These results suggest that the Chi-PANi nanofiber scaffolds have great potential for use in tissue engineering applications that involve electrical stimulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / chemistry*
  • Biocompatible Materials / pharmacology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chitin / chemistry
  • Electric Conductivity*
  • Humans
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Nanofibers / chemistry*
  • Nanotechnology / methods*
  • Neurites / drug effects
  • Neurites / metabolism
  • Tissue Engineering*
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • Biocompatible Materials
  • polyaniline
  • Chitin