Nano-scaled poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and PCL/gelatin fibrous scaffolds with immobilized epidermal growth factor (EGF) were prepared for the purpose of wound-healing treatments. The tissue scaffolds were fabricated by electrospinning and the parameters that affect the electrospinning process were optimized. While the fiber diameters were 488 ± 114 nm and 663 ± 107 nm for PCL and PCL/gelatin scaffolds, respectively, the porosities were calculated as 79% for PCL and 68% for PCL/gelatin scaffolds. Electrospun PCL and PCL/gelatin scaffolds were first modified with 1,6-diaminohexane to introduce amino groups on their surfaces, then EGF was chemically conjugated to the surface of nanofibers. The results obtained from Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy and quantitative measurements showed that EGF was successfully immobilized on nanofibrous scaffolds. L929 mouse fibroblastic cells were cultivated on both neat and EGF-immobilized PCL and PCL/gelatin scaffolds in order to investigate the effect of EGF on cell spreading and proliferation. According to the results, especially EGF-immobilized PCL/gelatin scaffolds exerted early cell spreading and superior and rapid proliferation compared to EGF-immobilized PCL scaffolds and neat PCL, PCL/gelatin scaffolds. Consequently, EGF-immobilized PCL/gelatin scaffolds could potentially be employed as novel scaffolds for skin tissueengineering applications.
Keywords: EGF; ELECTROSPINNING; GELATIN; NANOFIBERS; POLYCAPROLACTONE; SKIN TISSUE ENGINEERING.