Physico-mechanical and in vitro characterization of electrically conductive electrospun nanofibers of poly urethane/single walled carbon nano tube by great endothelial cells adhesion for vascular tissue engineering

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) because of blood vessel disease are considered as one of the most frequent causes for mortality in all over the world. Recently, blood vessel tissue engineering is identified as one the promising strategies in order to overcome CVD. Accordingly, using Nano technology provides many benefits in blood vessel tissue engineering. In Present research Unique electrical, mechanical and biochemical properties of SWNT combined with electrospun polyurethane nanofiber was investigated as a functional composite scaffold for vascular tissue engineering. SWNT and polyurethane nanofibers incorporation indicated a biomechanical behavior similar to native artery. The scaffold morphological properties have been investigated by the use of scanning electron microscopy. With respect to the results, nanofiber diameter distribution was narrowed down by increasing SWNT content, while mean nanofiber diameter increased from 40 nm up to 140 nm. Physico-chemical characterization using FTIR, DSC, XRD and Raman test, demonstrated the nanoparticle appropriate dispersion and interaction to the polyurethane macromolecule. Along with increasing SWNT content up to the 2% (W/W) ultimate stress and young modulus increased 3 and 11 time, compared to pure PU, respectively. Structures electrical conductivity was increased from 0.0013 s/cm to 0.36 s/cm along with the increasing of SWNT content up to 2%. SWNT unique properties modulated samples hydrophilicity, and also contact angle of nanofiber scaffolds decreased from 1000 to 770. By passing 7 days, in vitro cell culture demonstrated dense layer of endothelial cells, which is crucial for blood vessel tissue engineering. Obtained results confirmed that electrospun poly urethane-SWNT scaffold could be considered as an appropriate candidate for blood vessel tissue engineering.