Biocompatible biodegradable polycaprolactone/basil seed mucilage scaffold for cell culture

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Biocompatible scaffolds are crucial for cell culture and tissue engineering applications.
• Basil seed mucilage (BSM) offers a sustainable source for biopolymer development.
• Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a well-established biodegradable polymer for biomedical uses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize a novel 2D scaffold using a blend of basil seed mucilage (BSM) and polycaprolactone (PCL).
• To evaluate the scaffold's suitability for cell culture applications, specifically for Vero epithelial cells.

Main Methods:

• Polymer blends of BSM and PCL at a 2:3 ratio were prepared and electrospun.
• Scaffolds underwent Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and contact angle analysis.
• Mechanical strength, porosity, and degradation percentage were assessed.
• Vero epithelial cells were cultured on the optimized scaffold for adhesion and growth evaluation.

Main Results:

• The BSM/PCL scaffold exhibited uniform fiber morphology and appropriate diameter.
• Chemical analysis confirmed the polymer blend, while XRD indicated scaffold crystallinity.
• Contact angle measurements suggested favorable hydrophilicity.
• The scaffold demonstrated suitable strength, porosity, and degradation characteristics for cell culture.
• Vero cells showed good adhesion and growth on the developed scaffold.

Conclusions:

• A BSM/PCL composite scaffold can be successfully fabricated using electrospinning.
• The developed scaffold possesses suitable physicochemical and mechanical properties for cell culture.
• The BSM/PCL scaffold supports Vero epithelial cell adhesion and growth, indicating its potential in biomedical applications.