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Axially aligned electrically conducting biodegradable nanofibers for neural regeneration

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An Author Correction to this article was published on 13 May 2019

Abstract

In this study, electrically conducting axially aligned nanofibers have developed to provide both electrical and structural cues. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PHT) was electrospun into 2D random (196 ± 98 nm) and 3D axially aligned nanofibers (200 ± 80 nm). Electrospun random and aligned PLGA–PHT fibers were characterized for surface morphology, mechanical property, porosity, degradability, and electrical conductivity. The pore size of random PLGA–PHT nanofibers (6.0 ± 3.3 μm) were significantly higher than the aligned (1.9 ± 0.4 μm) (P < 0.05) and the Young’s modulus of aligned scaffold was significantly lower than the random. Aligned nanofibers showed significantly lesser degradation rate and higher electrical conductivity (0.1 × 10−5 S/cm) than random nanofibers (P < 0.05). Results of in vitro cell studies indicate that aligned PLGA–PHT nanofibers have a significant influence on the adhesion and proliferation of Schwann cells and could be potentially used as scaffold for neural regeneration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the Nano Mission Counicl, Department of Science & Technology, Govt. of India (SR/S5/NM-07/2006 & SR/NM/PG-16/2007) and the Indian Council for Medical Research (35/12/2009-BMS).

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  1. Center for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials, School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, 613 401, Tamil Nadu, India

    Anuradha Subramanian, Uma Maheswari Krishnan & Swaminathan Sethuraman

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  1. Anuradha Subramanian
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Correspondence to Swaminathan Sethuraman.

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Subramanian, A., Krishnan, U.M. & Sethuraman, S. Axially aligned electrically conducting biodegradable nanofibers for neural regeneration. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 23, 1797–1809 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-012-4654-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-012-4654-y

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