Electrospun cellulose acetate phthalate nanofibrous scaffolds fabricated using novel solvent combinations biocompatible for primary chondrocytes and neurons. Issue 6 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shrestha, Rupendra; Palat, Asha; Punnoose, Alan M.; Joshi, Shailesh; Ponraju, D.; Paul, Solomon F.D.
• Is Part Of: Tissue & cell. Volume 48:Issue 6(2016)
• Page Start: 634
• Page End: 643
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Electrospinning -- Cellulose acetate phthalate -- EDC -- NHS -- Cross-linking -- 3-D Culture -- Scaffolds; Cytology -- Periodicals; 571.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2016.07.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0040-8166

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) nanofibrous scaffolds was fabricated using novel solvent combinations. The FTIR analysis reveals the hydrolysis nature of CAP scaffolds in alkaline condition. The pH dependent solubility of nanofibrous scaffolds in alkaline condition was overcome by cross-linking with EDC and EDC-NHS. First preliminary study to show biocompatibility of CAP scaffolds for the growth of neuron and chondrocytes. Abstract: Electrospun nanofibres have been shown to exhibit extracellular matrix (ECM)-like characteristics required for tissue engineering in terms of porosity, flexibility, fibre organization and strength. This study focuses on developing novel cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) scaffolds by electrospinning for establishing 3-D chondrocyte and neuronal cultures. Five solvent combinations were employed in fabricating the fibres, namely, acetone/ethanol (9:1), dimethylformamide/tetrahydrofuran/acetone (3:3:4), tetrahydrofuran/acetone (1:1), tetrahydrofuran/ethanol (1:1) and chloroform/methanol (1:1). The electrospun fibres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and confirmed to be within the nanometre range. Based on the morphology of the fibers from SEM results, two solvent combinations such as acetone/ethanol and dimethylformamide/tetrahydrofuran/acetone were selected for stabilization as CAP exhibits a pH dependent solubility. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the hydrolysis of CAP which was overcome by EDC [1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide] and EDC/NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide) cross-linking resulting in its stability (pH of 7.2) for three months. MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-1, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay performed using L6 myoblast confirmed the biocompatibility of the scaffolds. 3-D primary chondrocyte and neuronal cultures were established on the scaffolds and maintained for a period of 10 days. H&E staining and SEM analysis showed the attachment of the chondrocytes and neurons on CAP scaffolds prepared using dimethylformamide/tetrahydrofuran/acetone and acetone/ethanol respectively.