Piezoelectric PU/PVDF electrospun scaffolds for wound healing applications.

Previous studies have shown that piezoelectric materials may be used to prepare bioactive electrically charged surfaces. In the current study, polyurethane/polyvinylidene fluoride (PU/PVDF) scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning. The mechanical property and piezoelectric property of the scaffolds were evaluated. The crystalline phase of PVDF in the scaffolds was characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In vitro cell culture was performed to investigate cytocompatibility of the scaffolds. Wound-healing assay, cell-adhesion assay, quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were performed to investigate piezoelectric effect of the scaffolds on fibroblast activities. Further, the scaffolds were subcutaneously implanted in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to investigate their biocompatibility and the piezoelectric effect on fibrosis in vivo. The results indicated that the electrospinning process had changed PVDF crystalline phase from the nonpiezoelectric α phase to the piezoelectric β phase. The fibroblasts cultured on the scaffolds showed normal morphology and proliferation. The fibroblasts cultured on the piezoelectric-excited scaffolds showed enhanced migration, adhesion and secretion. The scaffolds that were subcutaneously implanted in SD rats showed higher fibrosis level due to the piezoelectrical stimulation, which was caused by random animal movements followed by mechanical deformation of the scaffolds. The scaffolds are potential candidates for wound healing applications.

[1]  D J Wheatley,et al.  In vitro function and durability assessment of a novel polyurethane heart valve prosthesis. , 1996, Artificial organs.

[2]  T. Hattori,et al.  The crystallization behaviour and phase diagram of extended-chain crystals of poly(vinylidene fluoride) under high pressure , 1996 .

[3]  T. Hester,et al.  Use of stacked polyurethane-covered mammary implants in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery. , 1991, Plastic and reconstructive surgery.

[4]  K. Ulubayram,et al.  EGF containing gelatin-based wound dressings. , 2001, Biomaterials.

[5]  Darrell H. Reneker,et al.  Flat polymer ribbons and other shapes by electrospinning , 2001 .

[6]  S. Moochhala,et al.  Development of a chitosan-based wound dressing with improved hemostatic and antimicrobial properties. , 2008, Biomaterials.

[7]  Y. Dzenis,et al.  Novel Continuous Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Nanofibers , 2006 .

[8]  A. Salimi,et al.  FTIR STUDIES OF -PHASE CRYSTAL FORMATION IN STRETCHED PVDF FILMS , 2003 .

[9]  Jyh-Ping Chen,et al.  Preparation and characterization of composite nanofibers of polycaprolactone and nanohydroxyapatite for osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. , 2011, Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces.

[10]  Shih-Jung Liu,et al.  Electrospun PLGA/collagen nanofibrous membrane as early-stage wound dressing , 2010 .

[11]  J. Mano,et al.  Characterization of poled and non-poled β-PVDF films using thermal analysis techniques , 2004 .

[12]  Xiaoyan Yuan,et al.  Preparation and properties of electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes , 2005 .

[13]  J. J. Mack,et al.  Electrospinning of polyvinylidene difluoride-based nanocomposite fibers , 2008 .

[14]  Chen Huang,et al.  Electrospun collagen-chitosan-TPU nanofibrous scaffolds for tissue engineered tubular grafts. , 2011, Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces.

[15]  Ding Cao,et al.  Cell adhesive and growth behavior on electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds by designed multifunctional composites. , 2011, Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces.

[16]  M. Kotaki,et al.  A review on polymer nanofibers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites , 2003 .

[17]  A. Richert,et al.  Vascular endothelial cell responses to different electrically charged poly(vinylidene fluoride) supports under static and oscillating flow conditions. , 1997, Biomaterials.

[18]  C. Lim,et al.  Recent development of polymer nanofibers for biomedical and biotechnological applications , 2005, Journal of materials science. Materials in medicine.

[19]  R Guidoin,et al.  Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a biomaterial: from polymeric raw material to monofilament vascular suture. , 1995, Journal of biomedical materials research.

[20]  Xing‐dong Zhang,et al.  Bioactive nano-titania ceramics with biomechanical compatibility prepared by doping with piezoelectric BaTiO(3). , 2009, Acta biomaterialia.

[21]  Darrell H. Reneker,et al.  Beaded nanofibers formed during electrospinning , 1999 .

[22]  Mingwu Shen,et al.  Fabrication and morphology control of electrospun poly(γ-glutamic acid) nanofibers for biomedical applications. , 2012, Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces.

[23]  Shuichi Aoyagi,et al.  Novel chitosan wound dressing loaded with minocycline for the treatment of severe burn wounds. , 2007, International journal of pharmaceutics.

[24]  R F Valentini,et al.  Improved nerve regeneration through piezoelectric vinylidenefluoride-trifluoroethylene copolymer guidance channels. , 1991, Biomaterials.

[25]  Xing‐dong Zhang,et al.  Promotion of osteogenesis by a piezoelectric biological ceramic , 1997 .

[26]  L. Ibos,et al.  Structural evolution of PVDF during storage or annealing , 2004 .

[27]  T. Arinzeh,et al.  Characterization and in vitro cytocompatibility of piezoelectric electrospun scaffolds. , 2010, Acta biomaterialia.

[28]  R F Valentini,et al.  Electrically charged polymeric substrates enhance nerve fibre outgrowth in vitro. , 1992, Biomaterials.

[29]  Hyung-Sub Kang,et al.  Preparation of polyamide-6/chitosan composite nanofibers by a single solvent system via electrospinning for biomedical applications. , 2011, Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces.

[30]  A Pizzoferrato,et al.  In vitro biocompatibility of a polyurethane catheter after deposition of fluorinated film. , 1995, Biomaterials.

[31]  D. Clarke,et al.  Effect of electrospinning on the ferroelectric phase content of polyvinylidene difluoride fibers. , 2008, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[32]  Edward Bormashenko,et al.  Vibrational spectrum of PVDF and its interpretation , 2004 .