Back to Search Start Over

Fabrication and Characterization of Polylactic Acid Electrospun Scaffolds Modified with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles

Authors :
Athanasios Kotrotsos
Prokopis Yiallouros
Vassilis Kostopoulos
Source :
Biomimetics, Vol 5, Iss 3, p 43 (2020)
Publication Year :
2020
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2020.

Abstract

The solution electrospinning process (SEP) is a cost-effective technique in which a wide range of polymeric materials can be electrospun. Electrospun materials can also be easily modified during the solution preparation process (prior SEP). Based on this, the aim of the current work is the fabrication and nanomodification of scaffolds using SEP, and the investigation of their porosity and physical and mechanical properties. In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) was selected for scaffold fabrication, and further modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and hydroxyapatite (HAP) nanoparticles. After fabrication, porosity calculation and physical and mechanical characterization for all scaffold types were conducted. More precisely, the morphology of the fibers (in terms of fiber diameter), the surface properties (in terms of contact angle) and the mechanical properties under the tensile mode of the fabricated scaffolds have been investigated and further compared against pristine PLA scaffolds (without nanofillers). Finally, the scaffold with the optimal properties was proposed as the candidate material for potential future cell culturing.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23137673
Volume :
5
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Biomimetics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.ba001ecb7d704ca89745dfb3290df591
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics5030043