Axially aligned electrically conducting biodegradable nanofibers for neural regeneration

In this study, electrically conducting axially aligned nanofibers have developed to provide both electrical and structural cues. Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) with poly(3-hexylthiophene) (PHT) was electrospun into 2D random (196 +/- A 98 nm) and 3D axially aligned nanofibers (200 +/- A 80 nm). Electrospun random and aligned PLGA-PHT fibers were characterized for surface morphology, mechanical property, porosity, degradability, and electrical conductivity. The pore size of random PLGA-PHT nanofibers (6.0 +/- A 3.3 mu m) were significantly higher than the aligned (1.9 +/- A 0.4 mu m) (P < 0.05) and the Young's modulus of aligned scaffold was significantly lower than the random. Aligned nanofibers showed significantly lesser degradation rate and higher electrical conductivity (0.1 x 10(-5) S/cm) than random nanofibers (P < 0.05). Results of in vitro cell studies indicate that aligned PLGA-PHT nanofibers have a significant influence on the adhesion and proliferation of Schwann cells and could be potentially used as scaffold for neural regeneration.