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Scaffold percolative efficiency: in vitro evaluation of the structural criterion for electrospun mats

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Abstract

Fibrous scaffolds of engineered structures can be chosen as promising porous environments when an approved criterion validates their applicability for a specific medical purpose. For such biomaterials, this paper sought to investigate various structural characteristics in order to determine whether they are appropriate descriptors. A number of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) scaffolds were electrospun; each of which possessed a distinguished architecture when their material and processing conditions were altered. Subsequent culture of mouse fibroblast cells (L929) was carried out to evaluate the cells viability on each scaffold after their attachment for 24 h and proliferation for 48 and 72 h. The scaffolds’ porosity, pores number, pores size and distribution were quantified and none could establish a relationship with the viability results. Virtual reconstruction of the mats introduced an authentic criterion, “Scaffold Percolative Efficiency” (SPE), with which the above descriptors were addressed collectively. It was hypothesized to be able to quantify the efficacy of fibrous scaffolds by considering the integration of porosity and interconnectivity of the pores. There was a correlation of 80% as a good agreement between the SPE values and the spectrophotometer absorbance of viable cells; a viability of more than 350% in comparison to that of the controls.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Textile Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, 84156-83111, Isfahan, Iran

    Ashkan Heidarkhan Tehrani & Ali Zadhoush

  2. Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering Group, Department of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 81746-73461, Isfahan, Iran

    Saeed Karbasi

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 81746-73461, Isfahan, Iran

    Hojjat Sadeghi-Aliabadi

Authors
  1. Ashkan Heidarkhan Tehrani
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  2. Ali Zadhoush
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  3. Saeed Karbasi
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  4. Hojjat Sadeghi-Aliabadi
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Correspondence to Ali Zadhoush.

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Heidarkhan Tehrani, A., Zadhoush, A., Karbasi, S. et al. Scaffold percolative efficiency: in vitro evaluation of the structural criterion for electrospun mats. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 21, 2989–2998 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-010-4149-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-010-4149-7

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