Characterization Studies of Polycaprolactone Composite Fibers with Chlorophyllin Sodium Copper and Polyvinyl Acetate for Tissue Engineering Applications

Electrospinning is a widely used technique in Tissue engineering (TE) for fabricating nanofibrous scaffolds that support cell regeneration and tissue repair.. This study examined the synthesis of biodegradable nanofibers composed of polycaprolactone (PCL), chlorophyllin sodium copper (CSC), and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) via electrospinning for scaffold development in TE. PCL was prepared at concentrations of 7, 8, 9, and 10 w/w%, mixed with 5% CSC (relative to PCL weight), and combined with 15 w/w% PVAc. Electrospinning was conducted at 22 ± 5°C and 35 ± 4% humidity. The fiber morphology and diameter were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to confirm their chemical composition. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to measure the adhesion force and elastic modulus, and cytotoxicity was evaluated using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. SEM analysis revealed flat, dense, non-beaded fibers with an average diameter of 1717.84 ± 476.06 nm, mimicking extracellular matrix (ECM) dimensions. FTIR confirmed the presence of carbonyl (C=O), hydroxide (O-H), amine (N-H), and alkane (C-H) functional groups, indicating successful incorporation of PCL, CSC, and PVAc. AFM results showed higher adhesion force (44.67 nN) and elastic modulus (224.26 MPa) in composite fibers compared to PCL fibers (14.79 nN, 151.96 MPa), supporting bio-adhesion and cell proliferation. The MTT assay demonstrated ~86% cell viability, indicating biocompatibility and non-toxicity. These findings highlight the potential of PCL/CSC/PVAc composite nanofibers as scaffolds for TE, offering a favorable environment for cell growth and mechanical stability.