Development of electrically conductive hybrid nanofibers based on CNT‐polyurethane nanocomposite for cardiac tissue engineering

Abstract

Conductive nanofibers have been considered as one of the most interesting and promising candidate scaffolds for cardiac patch applications with capability to improve cell–cell communication. Here, we successfully fabricated electroconductive nanofibrous patches by simultaneous electrospray of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on polyurethane nanofibers. A series of CNT/PU nanocomposites with different weight ratios (2:10, 3:10, and 6:10wt%) were obtained. Scanning electron microscopy, conductivity analysis, water contact angle measurements, and tensile tests were used to characterize the scaffolds. FESEM showed that CNTs were adhered on PU nanofibers and created an interconnected web‐like structures. The SEM images also revealed that the diameters of nanofibers were decreased by increasing CNTs. The electrical conductivity, tensile strength, Young's modulus, and hydrophilicity of CNT/PU nanocomposites also enhanced after adding CNTs. The scaffolds revealed suitable cytocompatibility for H9c2 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). This study indicated that simultaneous electrospinning and electrospray can be used to fabricate conductive CNT/PUnanofibers, resulting in better cytocompatibility and improved interactions between the scaffold and cardiomyoblasts.

Biocompatible Nanocomposites Based on Poly(styrene-block-isobutylene-block-styrene) and Carbon Nanotubes for Biomedical Application

“…The FTIR analysis indicated a decrease in the intensity of spectral peaks corresponding to methyl groups ( Figure 3 ), suggesting that the high concentration of CNTs at the films’ surface reduced the number of highly hydrophobic methyl groups of isobutylene. In the study by Shokraei et al [ 49 ], a nanocomposite of multiwalled CNTs and polyurethane nanofibers showed a reduction of the contact angle by increasing the concentration of CNTs as a result of dominant carboxyl groups on the surface. Another study reported an increase in the hydrophobicity of nanocomposites based on a polymer blend of polyvinylidene fluoride–polyacrilonitrile with an increase in the CNT content, which the authors attributed to the higher roughness of the material’s surface [ 50 ].…”

Electrospun Scaffolds and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Cardiac Tissue Engineering Applications

“…In 2019, Shokraei et al aimed to develop an electroconductive scaffold composed of hybrid nanofibers created from simultaneous electrospinning and electrospraying of polyurethane/carbon nanotube (CNT) composites [59]. The inclusion of multi-walled CNTs was shown to increase the conductivity of the scaffold.…”

Conductive Electrospun Nanofiber Mats

“…Shrestha et al included functionalized multi-wall CNTs in a polyurethane/silk spinning solution and found conductivities of nearly 60 µS/cm for the resulting nanofiber mats, as compared to values below 1 µS/cm for pure polyurethane (PU) or PU/silk nanofiber mats [24]. Combining electrospraying of polyurethane (PU) with simultaneous electrospraying of multi-wall CNTs, Shokraei et al reached conductivities between 10 −5 and 10 −2 S/cm, as compared to the conductivity of the pure isolating PU of 10 −10 S/cm [25]. Abedi et al report on conductive chitosan/PEDOT:PSS nanofiber mats [26].…”