Page 196 - Biodegradable Polyesters
P. 196
174 7 Electrospun Scaffolds of Biodegradable Polyesters: Manufacturing and Biomedical Application
that the association of polyester with other components can give interesting and
specific properties to composite scaffolds [147].
7.3.2.2 Co-electrospinning and Electrospraying
Another way to combine polyesters with other polymers or molecules is through
the association of co-electrospinning and electrospraying–electrospinning
(Figure 7.4). In co-electrospinning, hybrid scaffolds are fabricated via an electro-
spinning setup consisting of two sets of separate syringes and syringe pumps. This
technique was used to produce gradient chitosan (CS)/PCL vascular scaffolds.
The CS/PCL fibers were successfully heparinized and functionalized with VEGF.
These functionalized scaffolds supported the attachment and proliferation of
HUVEC and favored the formation of an entire cellular monolayer on their
surface, becoming, therefore, interesting for the creation of small-diameter blood
vessel grafts [148].
Besides natural polymers, polyesters have also been associated with different
synthetic polymers to produce scaffolds with combined properties. In their study,
in order to improve the scaffold hydrophilicity, Shaffie and colleagues produced
hybrid scaffolds using PCL and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) via co-electrospinning.
PVA is a hydrophilic and also biodegradable and biocompatible polymer. The
PCL/PVA scaffolds had a higher hydrophilicity and also supported a greater
initial adhesion and proliferation rate of MSC than PCL scaffolds. When they
Polyester
Polymer B
(a)
Polyester
Biomolecule
(b)
Figure 7.4 Representation of a co-electrospinning system (a) and electrospinning–
electrospraying association (b).
