Abstract:

Poly(lactic acid-polycaprolactone/silk fibroin (PLA-PCL/SF) composite nanofibrous scaffolds with different mass ratios were fabricated by electrospinning. The morphologies and structures of nanofibrous mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The porosity and adsorbent behavior of the fibrous mats were also measured. The results shows that the mass ratio of PLA-PCL and SF components had obvious influence on the morphologies of nanofibrous scaffolds, and high density pores present on nanofibrous surface at mass ratios of 90:10 and 70:30 . The structure of SF in PLA-PCL/SF composite scaffolds is shanged from amorphous structure to β-sheet conformation by methanol treatment. The porosity and adsorbent behavior of the nanofibrous mats decrease with increasing SF contents in composite nanofibrous scaffolds. The water contact angle test and mouse fibroblasts cells (NIH-3T3) culture results indicate that the hydrophilicity of nanofibrous scaffolds is improved by the addition of SF for better adhesion and proliferation of NIH-3T3 cells.

Key words: polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, silk fibroin, electrospinning, nanofibrous scaffold, biocompatibility