The effect of incorporating graphene and polycaprolactone-grafted graphene oxide nanosheets on thermal and physico-mechanical properties, microstructure and biocompatibility of electrospun polyurethane nanocomposite mats

Abstract Bead-free electrospun polyurethane/graphene (PU-G) and polyurethane/reduced polycaprolactone-grafted graphene oxide (PU-GPCL) nanofiber mats were prepared for wound dressing application. The facilitated electron signal diffusion throughout the scaffolds boosted the proliferation, cell attachment, and cell viability of the 3T3 fibroblast cells on the PU-G and PU-GPCL nanofiber mats. The partial electrical conductivity induced in PU-G nanocomposites, due to the presence of G nanosheets, reduced the diameters of nanofibers compared to other samples. In addition, the lower tendency of G nanosheets to localize into the nanofibers decreased the mechanical properties of PU-G scaffolds which might restrict their practical applications. On the other hand, the localization of GPCL nanosheets into nanofibers, because of their high affinity with PU matrix, improved the mechanical properties of the PU-GPCL nanofiber mats. Considering the results of different analyses, including mechanical and MTT studies, it could be deduced that PU-GPCL electrospun nanofiber mat containing 1 wt% of GPCL nanosheets could be selected as the potential candidate for wound dressing application.