Development of a Bioactive Scaffold based on NGF Containing PCL/Chitosan Nanofibers for Nerve Regeneration

Nanofibers are used in a wide range of applications, including scaffolds for tissue engineering. Electrospinning is a promising technique to fabricate nanofibrous scaffolds capable of supporting cell attachment and growth. Nanofibers with biomimetic alignment could also guide neural cell growth and orientation of cell processes necessary for peripheral nerve regeneration. This study fabricated aligned nanofibers of polycaprolactone/chitosan (PCL/CS) scaffolds and immobilized nerve growth factor (NGF) on them via dopamine coating mediated bonds to confer bioactivity to the scaffold and support attachment and growth of PC12 cells. The results showed that PCL/CS nanofibrous scaffolds revealed appropriate mechanical and surface properties. Cells remained viable on the scaffolds, and surface-modified aligned nanofibrous scaffolds interacted better with the cells, inducing neural morphology and orientation. Immobilization of NGF via polydopamine (PD) on nanofibers' surface proved to be a proper method to enhance PC12 cell attachment and proliferation. Thus, this construct could potentially be used as a scaffold for peripheral nerve regeneration.