Electrospun Poly Caprolactone-Carbon Nanotube Scaffold for Nerve Regeneration in Dental Tissue Engineering

Regeneration and engineering of functional new tissues containing the neural network have great importance. Progression of neural network into the dental tissue has a crucial role in dental tissue regeneration. In the present study polymer-ceramic blended scaffolds containing different weight percentages of carbon nanotube in poly caprolactone nanofiber matrix were fabricated. Morphological, mechanical and electrical properties of the prepared scaffolds have been characterized. Results showed that the sample containing 5 weight % of carbon nanotube had the smallest mean fiber diameter (50 - 300 nm) and the highest mechanical behavior. Also, its electrical conductivity was suitable to be used in nerve tissue scaffolds. The static culture of the Schwann cells on the prepared scaffolds indicated that increasing weight percentage of carbon nanotube into the polycaprolactone matrix up to the 5 wt. % enhanced cell viability.