Polypyrrole is one of the most investigated conductive polymers used for tissue engineering applications because of its advantageous properties and the ability to promote different cell types’ adhesion and proliferation. Together with β-cyclodextrin, which is capable of accommodating helpful biomolecules in its cavity, it would make a perfect couple for use as a scaffold for tissue engineering. Such scaffolds were prepared by the polymerisation of 6-(pyrrol-3-yl)hexanoic acid on polycaprolactone microfibres with subsequent attachment of β-cyclodextrin on the polypyrrole layer. The materials were deeply characterised by several physical and spectroscopic techniques. Testing of the cyclodextrin enriched composite scaffold revealed its better performance in in vitro experiments compared with pristine polycaprolactone or polypyrrole covered polycaprolactone scaffolds.
Oriented fibres and materials based on orientated fibres have great potential for use in tissue engineering for tissues, where the arrangement of extracellular matrix is fundamental. The drawing method is based on mechanical pulling of a polymer solution out of its base droplet, resulting in a solidified fibre of determined geometrical characteristics. A new machine designed for lab scale drawing was invented enabling a repeatable quality of drawing conditions. The results demonstrate that it is possible to influence and define the fibre diameter and its distribution. From the in vitro experiments, it is evident that the aligned fibres guide the cell growth in the direction of the fibres. Moreover, the prepared fibres were functionalised with polypyrrole as an example of their versatility. These features make drawing an easy and suitable tool for the fabrication of scaffolds with a precise structure for tissues, e.g. nerve tissue.
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