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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Synthesis of Keratin-based Nanofiber for Biomedical Engineering
Published on: February 7, 2016
Electrospun PCL nanofibers blended with Wattakaka volubilis active phytochemicals for bone and cartilage tissue
Elakkiya Venugopal1, K Santosh Sahanand2, Amitava Bhattacharyya3
1Tissue Engineering Laboratory, PSG Institute of Advanced Studies, Coimbatore, India.
Abstract:
In the present study, the polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were investigated as a carrier to deliver phytochemicals for bone and cartilage tissue engineering. The PCL nanofibers was blended with phytochemicals hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid and N,N-diisopropyl (2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoropropyl) amine isolated from a medicinal plant, Wattakaka volubilis. The scaffolds were characterized using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The average diameter of control and phytochemical loaded nanofiber was 208 ± 9.6 nm and 316 ± 7.0 nm respectively. Biodegradation rate of nanofibers, impact of nanofiber on meniscus and osteoblast cell growth was analyzed using 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, DNA content and extra cellular matrix secretion. Hoechst stain and SEM images were used to visualize and monitor the cell growth on PCL scaffold. The phytochemicals incorporated PCL nanofibers enhanced the growth and proliferation of primary human meniscus and osteoblast like cells and hence may be suitable scaffold for bone and cartilage tissue engineering applications.
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