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Mineralized poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin core-shell nanofibers were prepared via co-axial electrospinning and subsequent incubation in biomimetic simulated body fluid containing ten times the calcium and phosphate ion concentrations found in human blood plasma. The deposition of calcium phosphate on the nanofiber surfaces was investigated through scanning electronic microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Energy dispersive spectroscopy results indicated that calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite had grown on the fibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis suggested the presence of hydroxyl-carbonate-apatite. The results of a viability assay (MTT) and alkaline phosphatase activity analysis suggested that these mineralized matrices promote osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) when cultured in an osteogenic medium and have the potential to be used as a scaffold in bone tissue engineering. hASCs cultured in the presence of nanofibers in endothelial differentiation medium showed lower rates of proliferation than cells cultured without the nanofibers. However, endothelial cell markers were detected in cells cultured in the presence of nanofibers in endothelial differentiation medium.

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Coaxial poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/gelatin nanofibers were successfully fabricated by electrospinning, using 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) as a solvent. The morphology of the PCL/gelatin coaxial fibers was evaluated using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscope, scanning electron microscope, and transmission electron microscope. The disappearance of gelatin absorption bands in FTIR spectrum after the mat washing step suggested that coaxial nanofibers were obtained. The coaxial morphology was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. The influences of PCL concentration, applied voltage, and feed rate on the characteristics of the PCL core were analyzed in correlation with the structure of the nanofibers. The morphology of the coaxial fibers was observed to be mainly affected by the PCL solution concentration. Extraction of the PCL core using dichloromethane allowed the preparation of hollow gelatin nanofibers. The replacement of TFE by a formic acid-acetic acid (1:1) system as a less toxic solvent also successfully resulted in the preparation of coaxial PCL-gelatin nanofibers. C 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Technol 2014, 33, 21475; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com.