Elecrtospinning PTMC/Gt/OA-HA composite fiber scaffolds and the biocompatibility with mandibular condylar chondrocytes

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles were modified by oleic acid (OA) to improve their lipophilicity and the dispersibility in polymer. XRD and FTIR demonstrated that the surface modification did not change the chemical properties of HA. OA modified HA (OA-HA) nanoparticles were introduced into polytrimethylene carbonate/gelatin (PTMC/Gt) composite fiber scaffolds (CFSs) by electrospinning. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the distribution of OA-HA nanoparticles was more uniform than that of HA nanoparticles in the CFSs. Comparing PTMC/Gt CFSs, PTMC/Gt/HA CFSs and PTMC/Gt/OA-HA CFSs, PTMC/Gt/OA-HA CFSs showed the best mechanical property and more hydrophilic. Cell adhesion and proliferation assay (MTT assay) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) demonstrated that the PTMC/Gt/OA-HA CFSs could provide a higher cell adhesion and proliferation environment for mandibular condylar chondrocytes(MCCs). Overall the PTMC/Gt/OA-HA CFSs have nontoxicity and good biocompatibility with MCCs and would be potential to be used in the field of bone and cartilage tissue engineering scaffolds in the future.