Determining the Properties of Aligned PLLA and PLGA Electrospun Fiber for neuronal growth

摘要

Poly(L-lactide) PLLA, and its copolymer, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) PLGA, aligned nanocomposite fibers with diameters in the nano-to micrometer size scale are successfully prepared using the electrospinning technique. Fibers were spun using HFIP (hexafluoro-2- propanol) solution, and with different material parameters and working conditions. The f iber quality is evaluated using scanning electron microscopy, judging by the size, uniform ity, and appearance of defects/beads. A significant improvement of fiber appearance is fo und by addition of 1.0% multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) into the solution, resulting in decreased fiber diamet er and improved uniformity. The fibers were cold crystallized at 120 °C and compared to their as-spun counterparts. The influence of the crystalline phase and/or MWCNT addition were examined using fiber shrinkage, temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry, and wide angle X- ray diffraction and dynamic mechanical analysis. Also, we used the electrospun fibers as substrates to influence the growth of cortical neurons. We will report on the impact of M WCNTs to influence how the neuronal growth cone is directed, and dependent upon proc essing factors, for both PLLA and PLGA electrospun fiber nanocomosites.