A new conducting nanofibrous scaffold for nerve tissue engineering applications

Introduction Nowadays, the application of tissue engineering to treat the neurological disorders has received a great deal of attention. Researchers have shown that the use of nanofibrous scaffolds and the utilization of electrical stimulation improve neural stem cell differentiation and nerve regeneration process. Objectives Therefore, this study aims to form a new electrically conductive nanofibrous scaffold. Methods Due to many interesting properties such as, high electrical conductivity and easy preparation, Polypyrrole (PPy) has been recognized as a promising scaffold material for nerve tissue engineering. However, the high degree of conjugation in the molecular backbone of PPy makes it very rigid to be used alone as a structural material. In order to solve this problem, polypyrrole was grafted on a processable and highly biocompatible natural polymer, gelatin, by chemical oxidative radicalic polymerization method. To enhance mechanical properties, it was preferred to use Poly-l-lactic Acid (PLLA) electrospunned nanofibrous meshes as a support structure. Then, polypyrrole-grafted-gelatin compound was coated on PLLA mesh through its surface activation. The grafting of polypyrrole on gelatin chains was evaluated through Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), UV-visible and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. In addition, the morphology of scaffolds was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and its conductivity was measured by Two-Probe test. Results Results indicate that the final conductivity and morphology of these new structures are in the proper range for neural tissue engineering according to recent studies. Conclusion So, regarding the characteristics of this scaffold, such as conductivity, nanofibrous nature and bioactive components, it can be used to repair nerve lesions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Nerve tissue engineering ، Conductive nanofibrous scaffold ، Polypyrrole ، Gelatin