Bilayer electrospun amine modified regenerated cellulose-collagen/functionalized bioactive glass-ceramic scaffold for...

Electrospun scaffolds facilitate cellular functions owing to their extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicking nanofibrous architecture with porosity that support nutrient transport and cell growth. In this study, the functionalization of electrospun scaffolds was attempted without significantly altering the fibrous structure. Conventional regenerated electrospun scaffolds were fabricated from the electrospinning of cellulose acetate and subsequent deacetylation. 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO) mediated oxidation was further carried out on regenerated scaffold at the C6 position of cellulose structure. Further amination reaction with L-arginine was carried out with 1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC)/N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) coupling. Although compromised in mechanical strength, the amine functionalized cellulose offers a relatively higher degradation rate and enhanced mineralization and osteogenic differentiation potential. The efficacy of the scaffolds was further improved by grafting a second electrospun layer combining collagen with functionalized bioactive glass-ceramic (f-BGC). The bilayer scaffold also depicted cytocompatibility (with L929 and MG63 cells) and enhanced mineral deposition ability (with MC3T3 cells). The cell-cycle analysis showed that over 70 % of cultured MC3T3 cells on collagen/f-BGC incorporated bilayer scaffold had entered the proliferative stage after 3 days, and enhanced osteocalcin expression suggested osteoblastogenesis capability of the scaffolds.