Characterization of polycaprolactone/collagen fibrous scaffolds by electrospinning and their bioactivity

Fibrous scaffolds for tissue engineering were fabricated using collagen extracted from Nile tilapia skin and polycaprolactone (PCL) by electrospinning. The scaffolds were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ATR-Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Diameters of PCL/collagen fibrous scaffolds (PCFSs) decreased from 987 ± 274 to 689 ± 299 nm with an increase in collagen content, crystallinity was low, and crystal size was small. All of the characteristic bands of PCL and collagen could be observed in PCFSs. Furthermore, PCFSs had a higher dehydration temperature (50-60°C) than native collagen (32.5°C). The ultimate tensile strength of PCFSs increased with an increase in collagen content. Circular dichroism and a degradation assay in vitro indicated that PCFSs had good stability and a low degradation rate. Cellular behavior on PCFSs was investigated by a MTT assay, SEM, and laser scanning confocal microscopy. The results indicated that the PCFSs could provide a suitable environment for the growth and viability of L929 fibroblasts, maintain good cell adhesion, and retain good biocompatibility. It implied the possibility of using PCFSs as a promising candidate for tissue engineering.