Fabrication of graphene‐silver/polyurethane nanofibrous scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering

Abstract

The graphene-based nanocomposites are considered as great candidates for enhancing electrical and mechanical properties of nonconductive scaffolds in cardiac tissue engineering. In this study, reduced graphene oxide-silver (rGO-Ag) nanocomposites(1 and 2 wt%) were synthesized and incorporated into polyurethane (PU) nanofibers via electrospinning technique. Next, the human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) were seed on these scaffolds for in vitro studies. The rGO-Ag nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). After incorporation of rGO-Ag into PU nanofibers, the related characterizations were carried out including scanning electron microscope (SEM), TEM, water contact angle, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, PU and PU/nanocomposites scaffolds were used for in vitro studies, wherein hCPCs showed good cytocompatibility via 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and considerable attachment on the scaffold using SEM studies. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunostaining studies confirmed the upregulation of cardiac specific genes including GATA-4, T-box 18 (TBX 18), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), and alphamyosin heavy chain (α-MHC) in the PU/rGO-Ag scaffolds in comparison with neat PU ones. Therefore, these nanofibrous rGO-Ag-reinforced PU scaffolds can be considered as suitable candidates in cardiac tissue engineering.

Carbon nanomaterials for cardiovascular theranostics: Promises and challenges

“…In this study, it was found that the rGO-Ag/PU scaffold improved the survival and growth of hCPCs compared to PU group. It upregulated the expression of cardiac specific genes GATA4, TBX18, cTnT, and α-MHC compared to the PU composite [ 150 ]. Similarly, our lab recently synthesized a conductive scaffold by incorporating GO-AU nanoparticles in a chitosan (CS) scaffold, to improve its mechanical strength and electrical conduction.…”

Cardiac tissue engineering, biomaterial scaffolds, and their fabrication techniques

“…In vitro and in vivo tests indicated that they could upregulate some cardiac genes like alpha-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC), T-box 18 (TBX 18), GATA-4, and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) and could be considered as a candidate for cardiovascular tissue engineering. 53,55 6 | CONCLUSION…”

Graphene impregnated electrospun nanofiber sensing materials: a comprehensive overview on bridging laboratory set-up to industry

“…Owning to their intrinsically high strength derived from the very strong carbon bonds as well as their interactions with the polymer solution matrix and their degree of dispersion, the addition of GNMs can overwhelmingly improve the tensile strength and Young's modulus of the ESNFs. GNMs are remarkable additives to improve the mechanical and electrical properties of electrospun nanofibers [185]. Dispersion GNMs into polymer matrices have been reported to improve the electrical, mechanical, thermal properties and other properties of polyslfones [186,187], polyimide [188,189], polycarbonates [190,191], polyamides [192,193], polyethylene terephthalate [192,193] and polybutylene terephthalate [194,195].…”