Adaptability of Electrospun PVDF Nanofibers in Bone Tissue Engineering

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Bone tissue engineering requires advanced scaffolds to regenerate bone defects.
• Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a promising polymer for biomedical applications due to its properties.
• Surface modification techniques are crucial for improving scaffold biocompatibility and cell interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize an electrospun PVDF nanofiber scaffold for bone tissue engineering.
• To investigate the effects of different plasma treatments (oxygen, argon, combined) on PVDF scaffold properties.
• To assess the biocompatibility and cell adhesion of the modified PVDF scaffolds using Saos-2 cells.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PVDF nanofibers using electrospinning with a rotating collector.
• Optimization of electrospinning parameters and plasma treatment conditions.
• Comprehensive analysis of scaffold properties: structural integrity, chemical composition, wettability, and crystalline phase.
• Evaluation of cell adhesion and proliferation on the prepared scaffolds.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated PVDF nanofiber scaffolds with tunable properties.
• Plasma treatment significantly altered surface characteristics, including wettability and chemical composition.
• Enhanced cell adhesion and spreading of Saos-2 cells on treated scaffolds compared to untreated ones.
• Demonstrated potential for PVDF scaffolds to support osteoblast cell culture.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun PVDF nanofibers offer a viable platform for bone tissue engineering scaffolds.
• Plasma surface modification is an effective strategy to enhance the biocompatibility of PVDF scaffolds.
• The developed scaffold shows promise for future applications in bone regeneration and repair.