Nanofibrous Silver-Coated Polymeric Scaffolds with Tunable Electrical Properties

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Tissue Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Electrospun poly(glycerol sebacate)-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PGS-PCL) fibrous scaffolds are utilized in tissue engineering for their mechanical properties and tunable degradation.
• Developing advanced scaffolds with enhanced functionalities is crucial for improving engineered tissue performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize micro/nanofibrous PGS-PCL scaffolds coated with silver (Ag) using radio frequency (RF) sputtering.
• To evaluate the impact of Ag coating on scaffold conductivity, pore size, and mechanical properties.
• To assess the biocompatibility, biodegradability, and potential clinical applications of the Ag-coated PGS-PCL scaffolds.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PGS-PCL micro/nanofibrous scaffolds via electrospinning.
• Coating scaffolds with silver (Ag) using a custom radio frequency (RF) sputtering technique.
• Characterization of scaffold properties including conductivity, pore size, mechanical behavior, biocompatibility, and biodegradability through in vitro studies.

Main Results:

• The Ag coating created an electrically conductive layer on the PGS-PCL fibers, reducing pore size.
• Controlled Ag coating thickness allowed for tailoring of substrate conductivity.
• The resulting flexible and stretchable patches demonstrated excellent conformal contact and pattern-substrate fidelity.
• In vitro assessments confirmed the biocompatibility and biodegradability of the Ag-coated scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• Ag-coated PGS-PCL fibrous scaffolds offer tunable conductivity and excellent mechanical properties for tissue engineering.
• The developed platform exhibits promising biocompatibility and biodegradability for various clinical applications.
• Potential for controlled silver ion release suggests therapeutic benefits in regenerative medicine.