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Fabrication and characterization of gold nanoparticle-doped electrospun PCL/chitosan nanofibrous scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering

  • Tissue Engineering Constructs and Cell Substrates
  • Original Research
  • Published:
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Abstract

In the field of nerve tissue engineering, nanofibrous scaffolds could be a promising candidate when they are incorporated with electrical cues. Unique physico-chemical properties of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) make them an appropriate component for increasing the conductivity of scaffolds to enhance the electrical signal transfer between neural cells. The aim of this study was fabrication of AuNPs-doped nanofibrous scaffolds for peripheral nerve tissue engineering. Polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan mixtures with different concentrations of chitosan (0.5, 1 and 1.5) were electrospun to obtain nanofibrous scaffolds. AuNPs were synthesized by the reduction of HAuCl4 using chitosan as a reducing/stabilizing agent. A uniform distribution of AuNPs with spherical shape was achieved throughout the PCL/chitosan matrix. The UV–Vis spectrum revealed that the amount of gold ions absorbed by nanofibrous scaffolds is in direct relationship with their chitosan content. Evaluation of electrical property showed that inclusion of AuNPs significantly enhanced the conductivity of scaffolds. Finally, after 5 days of culture, biological response of Schwann cells on the AuNPs-doped scaffolds was superior to that on as-prepared scaffolds in terms of improved cell attachment and higher proliferation. It can be concluded that the prepared AuNPs-doped scaffolds can be used to promote peripheral nerve regeneration.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (No. 97-01-84-38323).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Science Engineering, Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Narges Saderi & Babak Akbari

  2. Department of Polymer, School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Mina Rajabi

  3. Tissue Repair Lab, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Masoumeh Firouzi

  4. Pediatric Urology and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Zahra Hassannejad

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  1. Narges Saderi
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  2. Mina Rajabi
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Correspondence to Zahra Hassannejad.

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Saderi, N., Rajabi, M., Akbari, B. et al. Fabrication and characterization of gold nanoparticle-doped electrospun PCL/chitosan nanofibrous scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 29, 134 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6144-3

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