This research study is mainly targeted on fabrication and characterization of antibacterial poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) based fibrous membrane containing silver chloride particles. Micro/nano fibres were produced by electrospinning and characterized with TGA, DSC, SEM and mechanical analysis. It was found that addition of silver particles slightly reduced onset of thermal degradation and increas...

Number of Papers published in peer-reviewed journals: Final Report: Instrumentation for Investigating the Regenerative Potential of Bone-Tissue-Engineered Scaffolds Report Title This research aims to develop polymeric nanofibers that can be used as tissue scaffolds. Nanoscale fiber scaffolds provide an optimal template for cells to seed, migrate and grow. The goal is for the cells to attach to ...

The design of hybrid poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL)-self-assembling peptides (SAPs) matrices represents a simple method for the surface functionalization of synthetic scaffolds, which is essential for cell compatibility. This study investigates the influence of increasing concentrations (2.5%, 5%, 10% and 15% w/w SAP compared to PCL) of three different SAPs on the physico-chemical/mechanical and bio...

Biocompatible nanofibers that are capable of adapting to the physiological conditions of the human body have become increasingly important for clinical applications in recent years. Electrospun fiber mats offer particular advantages due to their large surface area and their sorption/release properties. If loaded with drugs, delivery properties can be tailored to a specific release rate. This re...

A novel optical fiber having its cladding doped with Au nano-particles was developed by modified chemical vapor deposition process. Absorption peaks of the optical fiber preform and the fiber appearing at 585 nm and 428 nm, respectively were due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of the incorporated Au nano-particles in the cladding. The measured peak wavelength of the SPR was found to increase...

At present the manufacture of small-diameter blood vessels is one of the main challenges in the field of vascular tissue engineering. Currently available vascular grafts rapidly fail due to development of intimal hyperplasia and thrombus formation. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) hollow fiber (HF) membranes have previously been proposed for this application, but as we show in the present w...

Objective: To investigate the effects of growth factors fibroblast-derived extracellular matrix formation in the 3D fiber-deposited polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold fabricated by 3D printing technique for tissue engineering applications of tunica albuginea. Methods: PCL scaffold was fabricated by 3D bioprinting system. For in vitro cell study, scaffolds were seeded with human fibroblast cell at ...

To examine the influence of substrate topology on the behavior of fibroblasts, tissue engineering scaffolds were electrospun from polycaprolactone (PCL) and a blend of PCL and gelatin (PCL+Gel) to produce matrices with both random and aligned nanofibrous orientations. The addition of gelatin to the scaffold was shown to increase the hydrophilicity of the PCL matrix and to increase the prolifera...

Hemocompatibility, anti-inflammation and anti-thrombogenicity of acellular synthetic vascular grafts remains a challenge in biomaterials design. Using electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers as a template, a coating of polypyrrole (PPy) was successfully polymerized onto the fiber surface. The fibers coated with heparin-doped PPy (PPy-HEP) demonstrated better electroactivity, lower surface res...

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) films reinforced with polylactide (PLA) microfibers were prepared by two methodologies: a) melt pressing of an electrospun PLA mat between two PCL films, and b) melt pressing of a co-electrospun mat composed of PLA microfibers and PCL nanofibers. Electrospinning conditions were selected for each polymer to obtain films loaded with 10, 20 and 30 wt% of PLA. Thermal and...