Smart electrospun nanofibers containing PCL/gelatin/graphene oxide for application in nerve tissue engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Graphene-doped electrospun scaffolds are of significant interest for biomedical applications.
• Polycaprolactone (PCL) and gelatin are commonly used polymers for scaffold fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of graphene on the biological properties of PCL/gelatin nanofibrous mats.
• To explore the potential of these composite scaffolds in tissue engineering and drug delivery.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PCL/gelatin/graphene nanofibrous mats via electrospinning.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphology analysis.
• In-vitro cellular proliferation studies using PC12 cells.
• Antibacterial property assessment against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
• Drug release studies (TCH) to evaluate controlled release capabilities.

Main Results:

• Electrospun PCL/gelatin/graphene nanofibrous mats demonstrated 99% antibacterial efficacy.
• Enhanced controlled release of TCH was observed due to π-π stacking interactions with graphene.
• Improved hydrophilicity and biodegradation properties were noted.
• Promising in-vitro cellular proliferation of PC12 cells on the scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• Graphene incorporation significantly enhances the biological properties of PCL/gelatin nanofibrous scaffolds.
• These composite scaffolds exhibit excellent potential for neural tissue engineering due to electrical conductivity.
• The controlled drug release capability makes them suitable for advanced therapeutic applications.