Poly(ε-caprolactone) Nanofibers with a Self-Induced Nanohybrid Shish-Kebab Structure Mimicking Collagen Fibrils

摘要

A three-dimensional structure consisting of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers covered by periodically spaced PCL crystal lamellae, a self-induced nanohybrid shish-kebab (SINSK) structure, was created using electro-spinning followed by a self-induced crystallization. The resulting structure that resembles the nanotopography of natural collagen nanofibrils in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of human tissues could serve as a tissue engineering scaffold. The formation mechanism of the self-induced shish-kebab structure was investigated with real-time observation of the crystallization process. Electrospun polylactic acid (PLA)/PCL nanofibers were also employed as shish elements to study the effects of different shish materials. The results show that the geometric dimensions of the shish-kebabs are highly related to the initial concentration of PCL solution. The shish material played an important role in the creation of shish-kebab structure. Cell assays with NIH 3T3 ECACC fibroblasts suggest that the nanotopography of the nanofiber surface with kebab crystals that ' mimic collagen fibrils facilitated the cell attachment and spreading of 3T3 fibroblasts cells.