Fabrication And Characterization Of Gelatin/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Hydroxyapatite Nanofibrous Scaffolds

A novel three-dimensional biomimetic gelatin/carbon nanotubes/hydroxyapatite (gelatin/MWNTs/HA) nanofibrous scaffold was prepared via electrospinning technique. The mechanical strength, mineralization and the bioactivity of nanofibrous scaffolds in vitro were investigated. The proliferation of human fetal osteoblastic cells (hFOBs) on scaffold was further study by DAPI staining assay.1. The process parameters of electrospun gelatin/carbon nanotubes/hydroxyapatite composite fiber scaffold were optimized:(voltage of 10 kV, the receiving distance of 12 cm) and HA added amount (40%). Hydrogen bonds formed between gelatin molecules and MWNTs/HA units. The resulting scaffolds provided relative good mechanical support (7.9±0.32 MPa) and high porosity (91.2%) to mimick a favourable environment for hFOBs.2. The incorporation of HA or MWNTs/HA nanoparticles caused an increase in porosity and strength of nanofibrous scaffolds, meanwhile the surface of nanofibers tended to be rough. HA nanoparticles showed a chelating effect to promote osteogenesis and mineralization of bone, and MWNTs had a synergetic effect with HA to induce the apatite formation.3. As compared to gelatin and gelatin/HA scaffolds, gelatin/MWNTs/HA nanofibrous scaffold exhibited the best viability hFOB cells cultured in vitro, most excellent morphology of hFOB cells seeded into scaffold and a significantly increasing in proliferation. The gelatin/MWNTs/HA nanofibrous scaffold will have great potential as an excellent scaffold in bone tissue engineering.