Electrospun tubular scaffolds: On the effectiveness of blending poly(ε‐caprolactone) with poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate)

Abstract

Abstract Tissue engineering can effectively contribute to the development of novel vascular prostheses aimed to overcome the well‐known drawbacks of small‐diameter grafts. To date, poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL), a bioresorbable synthetic poly(α‐hydroxyester), is considered one of the most promising materials for vascular tissue engineering. In this work, the potential advantage of intimate blending soft PCL and hard poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐ co ‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), a polymer of microbial origin, has been evaluated. Nonwoven mats and small‐diameter tubular scaffolds of PCL, PHBV, and PCL/PHBV were fabricated by means of electrospinning technique. Mechanical properties and suture retention strength were investigated according to the international standard for cardiovascular implants. Biological tests demonstrated that both PCL‐based scaffolds supported survival and growth of rat cerebral endothelial cells in a short time. The fiber alignment of the electrospun tubular scaffolds contributed to a more rapid and homogeneous cell colonization of the luminal surface. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2012.