Electrospinning of Polycaprolactone Nanofibrous Scaffolds Containing Folic Acid for Nerve Tissue Engineering

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study was to employ electrospinning technology to fabricate aligned nanofibrous scaffolds of polycaprolactone (PCL) containing folic acid (FA) for nerve tissue engineering. Material and Methods: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the diameter distribution and degree of alignment of the nanofibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) were used to analyze the chemical and crystalline structures of the scaffold. Additionally, the content and release behavior of FA in the PCL fibrous scaffolds were examined. Finally, the biocompatibility of the scaffolds was evaluated using rat Schwann cells, assessing cell proliferation, alignment, and morphology. Results: The study revealed that the nanofiber diameters ranged from 210.07 to 227.36 nm, and the scaffolds maintained an amorphous form with no effects on their chemical structure following the electrospinning process. The investigation demonstrated that PCL fibers could accommodate FA loading within a range of 99.25-102.49% w/w and that the release profile of FA followed Higuchi model. Moreover, the FA-containing PCL nanofibrous scaffolds significantly enhanced rat Schwann cell proliferation during the initial two days of culture when compared to a normal PCL nanofiber scaffold. The hydrophilic properties of folic acid are thought to have facilitated directional growth along the electrospun nanofibers, contributing to the observed results. Conclusion: Finally, PCL-containing FA nanofibrous scaffolds may be applicable to nerve tissue engineering.