Preparation of PLLA/PEG Nanofibers by Electrospinning and Potential Applications

Research group: Biomaterials, implants and tissue engineering Year: 2007
Type of Publication: Article
Authors: M. Spasova; O. Stoilova; N. Manolova; I. Rashkov; George Altankov
Journal: Journal of Bioactive and Compatible Polymers Volume: 22
Number: 1 Pages: 62-76
Abstract:
Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA)/polyethylene glycol (PEG) mixed solutions were successfully electrospun into micro-or nanofibrous polymer mats. The fiber diameter was in the range 100nm-6μm. The effect of the concentration of the spinning solutions and the ratio of PLLA/PEG on the fiber diameter and morphology was investigated. The hydrophilicity was tuned by varying the PLLA/PEG ratio. The tissue compatibility of the electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds was screened using two different cell models of human dermal fibroblasts and the osteoblast-like cell line MG-63. Both types of cells attached uniformly and approximately equally to all PLLA/PEG nanofibers. In long-term cultures osteoblast-like cells tend to spatially organize in tissue-like structure, particularly within the scaffold with the highest PEG content (PLLA/PEG at weight ratio 70/30). These results indicate that PLLA mixed with hydrophilic PEG produces a promising new biocompatible material for engineering scaffolds.
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