Bioactive Nano‑Hydroxyapatite Doped Electrospun PVA‑Chitosan Composite Nanofibers for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications

Abstract

Combination of bioceramics with polymers to fabricate nanofibrous
scaffolds holds enormous potential for bone tissue regeneration.
In this study, we aim to incorporate HAp nanoparticles in trace doping
amount in PVA-chitosan nanofiber matrix to fabricate PVA-chitosan composite nanofibers with improved performance for application as a bone tissue regeneration material. The diameter of the fabricated composite nanofibrous mat is estimated as 300 ± 121 nm. Beads free nanofibers mat with uniform morphology was ascertained for all sample groups by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the overall composition was assessed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). SEM images showed a homogeneous distribution of HAp nanoparticles in the composite nanofibers matrix. Further, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was performed to determine the crystallinity of the fabricated scaffolds. Swelling behavior and hydrolytic degradation of nanofibrous mats were subsequently evaluated by immersing in PBS buffer at pH 7.4 at physiological temperature (37 °C). The biocompatibility study of nanofiber scaffolds was performed with MC3T3 cells. Significantly higher cellular viability was observed on HAp nanoparticles incorporated composite nanofibrous scaffold surface after 7 days of culture in comparison to scaffolds without HAp.