Formation of aligned core/sheath microfiber scaffolds with a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) sheath and a conductive poly(3,4-
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Formation of aligned core/sheath microfiber scaffolds with a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) sheath and a conductive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) corea Rachel A. Martin1, Marie Wendling2, Bailey Mohrenweiser3, Zichen Qian4, Feng Zhao5, Michael E. Mullins6,a) 1
Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA Bachelor’s Degree Student, Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA Bachelor’s Degree Student, Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA 4 Ph.D. Student, Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA 5 Associate Professor, Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA 6 Professor, Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931, USA a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: [email protected] 2 3
Received: 31 October 2018; accepted: 3 May 2019
Electrospun coaxial fibers are used to create core/sheath fiber structures to act as growth-promoting scaffolds for in vitro dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cell cultures. The core was a conducting polymer, poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and the sheath was poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), which created coaxial fibers with a conductive core and an insulating sheath. SEM analysis confirmed the conductivity of the core and insulation of the sheath. Several coaxial spinneret designs were tested with the best results obtained by using various annular spinning needle combinations. Using a 22G/16G and 22G/17G combination, fibers with diameters of 6.1 ± 2.4 lm and 3.3 ± 0.9 lm were spun, respectively. The fibers showed a Young’s modulus and hardness of 0.16 ± 0.13 and 0.02 ± 0.01 GPa for the larger diameters, and 0.7 ± 0.4 and 0.03 ± 0.03 GPa for the smaller diameter fibers. In vitro test cultures showed the fibers successfully directed chick DRG axonal outgrowth with low biotoxicity.
Introduction Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) continue to be among the most debilitating injuries because of the lack of regeneration capabilities of damaged neural tissue [1]. The development of a glial scar at the site of injury provides a barrier to the repair, regeneration, and reconnection of severed axons. Previous research has focused on the creation of an implantable fiber scaffold that would act as a bridge across the glial scar and provide guidance for axonal outgrowth [2]. Recently, coaxial core/sheath fiber structures have shown promise as a more advanced scaffold material [3]. These core/sheath fiber structures allow for delivery of external stimuli in the form of biochemical or electrical cues, in addition to topographical guidance provided by the fiber surface. In this article, we explore the use of electrospun core/sheath fibers with a conductive conjugated polymer core, insulated by a nonconductive polymer sheath. This is the first study to report a suc
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