Maghemite filled poly-vinyl alcohol nanofibres for tissue engineering scaffold.
Loading...
Date
2016
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
Abstract
Maghemite (y-Fe2O3) nanoparticle with its unique magnetic properties has the potential to be used in biomedical applications. In this study, y-Fe2O3 was mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in order to enhance cell growth which is required for tissue engineering (TE) scaffold. Electrospinning was chosen to be the main process in this study due to its ability to form fibers at nanometer scale and it can mimic the dimensions of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of human tissue. However, the major challenge faced is the limitation on its thickness of the electrospun mats produced. Thus in this study a 3D TE scaffold was fabricated from a novel biomaterial (PVA/y- Fe2O3) using a combined 3D printing with thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) and electrospinning processes. Design of experiments (DOE) was used to determine the optimum parameter settings for the electrospinning process so as to produce electrospun mats with good mechanical properties and porosity. The input factors of the electrospinnning process were the nanoparticles content, voltage, flow rate, spinning distance (tip to collector) and the rotating speed while the responses considered were Young’s Modulus and porosity. Maximum Young’s Modulus achieved was 273.51 MPa while maximum percentage of porosity achieved was 90.85%. The layer of electrospun nanofibers was then wrapped around the 3D PVA/y- Fe2O3 TE scaffold which was developed by combining 3D printing with TIPS. The characteristics and biocompatibility performance of the optimum PVA/y-Fe2O3 electrospun nanofiber mat and 3D structure were investigated. The developed 3D structure scaffold was again tested for its Young’s Modulus and was found to be 1.74 ± 0.17 GPa. Results also showed that the material developed has good biocompatibility properties. The rate of cells growth for the novel material (PVA/y- Fe2O3) was faster than the controlled material (only PVA) indicating that it is biocompatible. In conclusion, the developed 3D PVA/y-Fe2O3 nanofibrous scaffold has good mechanical and biocompatibility properties suitable for TE scaffold.
Description
Thesis (PhD. (Mechanical Engineering))
Keywords
Tissue engineering, Nanotechnology in medicine, Polymers in biomedical applications