Zero-valent iron nanoparticles containing nanofiber scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering.

Regeneration of nerve tissue is a challenging issue in regenerative medicine. Especially the peripheral nerve defects related to the accidents are one of the leading health problems. For large degeneration of peripheral nerve, nerve grafts are used in order to obtain a connection. These grafts should be biodegradable to prevent second surgical intervention. In order to make more effective nerve tissue enginerring materials, nano-technological improvements were used. Especially, the addition of electrical conductive and biocompatible metallic particles and carbon structures have essential roles in the stimulation of nerves. However, the metabolizing of these stuructures still remain to wonder due to their non-degradable nature. In this study, biodegradable and conductive nerve tissue engineering materials containing zero-valent iron (Fe) nano-particles were developed and investigated under in vitro conditions. By using electrospinning technique, fibrous mats composed of electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers and Fe nano-particles were obtained. Both electrical conductivity and mechanical properties increased compared to control group that does not contain nano-particles. Conductivity of PCL/Fe5 and PCL/Fe10 increased to 0.0041 and 0.0152 from 0.0013 Scm-1 , respectively. Cytotoxicity results indicated toxicity for composite mat containing 20% Fe nano-particles (PCL/Fe20). SH-SY5Y cells were grown on PCL/Fe10 best which contains 10% Fe nano-particles. Beta III tubulin staining of dorsal root ganglion neurons seeded on mats revealed higher cell number on PCL/Fe10. This study demonstrated the impact of zero-valent Fe nano-particles on nerve regeneration. The results showed the efficacy of the conductive nano-particles and the amount in the composition has essential roles in promotion of the neurites.