Fabrication and Characterization of Nanofibrous Poly (L-Lactic Acid)/Chitosan-Based Scaffold by Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation Technique for Nerve Tissue Engineering

• Published in: Molecular biotechnology 2021-09, Vol.63 (9), p.818-827
• Main Authors: Ehterami, Arian, Masoomikarimi, Masoomeh, Bastami, Farshid, Jafarisani, Moslem, Alizadeh, Morteza, Mehrabi, Mohsen, Salehi, Majid
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addition polymerization; Animals; Biochemistry; Biological Techniques; Biotechnology; Cell adhesion; Cell Biology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell viability; Chemical Fractionation - methods; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Chitosan; Chitosan - chemistry; Chitosan - pharmacology; Degradation; Electrochemical Techniques; Electrospinning; Fabrication; Human Genetics; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hydrophilicity; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Lactic acid; Liquid phases; Mechanical properties; Metabolites; Morphology; Nanofibers - chemistry; Nanofibers - ultrastructure; Nervous tissues; Neuroblastoma; Neuroblasts; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - drug effects; Nutrients; Original Paper; pH effects; Phase separation; Polyesters - chemistry; Polyesters - pharmacology; Polylactic acid; Porosity; Protein Science; Scaffolds; Tensile Strength; Tissue engineering; Tissue Engineering - methods; Tissue Scaffolds
• ISSN: 1073-6085; 1559-0305
• DOI: 10.1007/s12033-021-00346-3

Fabrication method is one of the essential factors which directly affect on the properties of scaffold. Several techniques have been well established to fabricate nanofibrous scaffolds such as electrospinning. However, preparing a three-dimensional (3-D) interconnected macro-pore scaffold essential for transporting the cell metabolites and nutrients is difficult using the electrospinning method. The main aim of this study was developing a highly porous scaffold by poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/chitosan blend using liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) technique, a fast and cost–benefit method, in order to use in nerve tissue engineering. In addition, the effect of different polymeric concentrations on morphology, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, in vitro degradation rate and pH alteration of the scaffolds were evaluated. Moreover, cell attachment, cell viability and cell proliferation of scaffolds as candidates for nerve tissue engineering was investigated. PLLA/chitosan blend not only had desirable structural properties, porosity, hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, degradation rate and pH alteration but also provided a favorable environment for attachment, viability, and proliferation of human neuroblastoma cells, exhibiting significant potential for nerve tissue engineering applications. However, the polymeric concentration in blend fabrication had influence on both characteristics and cell responses. It concluded that PLLA/chitosan nanofibrous 3-D scaffold fabricated by LLPS method as a suitable candidate for nerve tissue engineering.