Fabrication of a Cellulose-based Nanocomposite as a Potential Scaffold in Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

摘要

We have designed a potential platform biomaterial consists of cellulose nanowhiskers embedded in a matrix of CAP or collagen. The dispersed CNW phase created a rigid percolating network within the host matrix, which imparted considerable mechanical/thermal stability to the entire nanocomposite at low filler content and substantially enhanced these properties upon the alignment of the nanowhiskers. We believe that our nanohybrid platform not only could expand the biomedical applications of renewable cellulose-based materials but also could provide a potential scaffold candidate in tissue engineering of small diameter grafts.