Electrospun PCL/cefuroxime scaffolds with custom tailored topography

Abstract

The study focuses on the fabrication and properties evaluation of dual functional electrospun polycaprolactone scaffolds incorporating antibiotic drug cefuroxime and having custom tailored topography for the support of human cells to be used in tissue regeneration. The scaffolds were evaluated in regard to their morphology, total porosity, thermal properties, tensile properties and cells adhesion/growth, thus to define the effect of both drug content and physical architecture on the scaffolds properties. Both the addition of the drug and the scaffolds custom topography resulted in higher total porosity (up to 90%), while the fibers diameter highest reduction was up to 73%. The type of 3 D printed collector influenced scaffolds tensile properties, thus the increase of the tensile strength was due to the change of the central cylinder height in the hexagonal geometry of the collectors. Cells distribution and spreading on the electrospun scaffolds after 72 hours, showed that scaffolds with custom topography have more evenly scattered cells than the ones with random electrospun fibers. The study has demonstrated that both drug concentration and scaffolds target topography influenced the scaffolds properties and both can be optimized depending on scaffolds demands.

Keywords

• electrospun scaffold
• pcl
• cefuroxime
• 3d collector
• hexagonal geometry
• cells adhesion