Electrically conductive nanofibrous scaffolds based on poly(ethylene glycol)s-modified polyaniline and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) for tissue engineering applications

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to design and develop electrically conductive nanofibrous scaffolds based on poly(ethylene glycol)s-modified polyaniline [PEGs-b-(PANI)(4)] and poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) for tissue engineering applications. For this purpose, two AB(4) miktoarm star-shaped conductive PEG(2000)-b-(PANI)(4) and PEG(6000)-b-(PANI)(4) were synthesized through a multistep process started from diepoxylated PEGs, and subsequently hydrolyzed to PEGs ends-caped tetraol [PEGs(OH)(4)]. Afterward, phenylamine-functionalized PEGs AB(4) macromonomers (PhAPEGsM) were synthesized by functionalization of PEGs(OH)(4) with p-anthranilic acid. The macromonomers obtained were subsequently used in chemical oxidation copolymerization with aniline monomer to produce AB(4) miktoarm H-shaped conductive polymers. The solutions of the synthesized polymers and PCL were electrospun to produce uniform, conductive, and biocompatible nanofibers. Some physicochemical properties of these nanofibers such as morphologies, electrical conductivities, hydrophilicities, and mechanical properties were investigated. The biocompatibilities of the fabricated nanofibers were confirmed by assessing the adhesion, viability and proliferation of mouse fibroblast L929 cells using SEM and MTT assay, respectively. As the results, of the conductivities, biocompatibilities, hydrophilicities, and mechanical properties assessments it is demonstrated that these nanofibers are potentially suitable as scaffolds for use in tissue engineering that requires electroactivity.