• Polycaprolactone/multiwall carbon nanotube/ellagic acid-loaded liposome scaffold containing mesenchymal stem cells as a novel platform for improved tissue regeneration
  • Hamideh Babaloo,1,* Arman Abroumand,2 Somaye Fallahnezhad,3
    1. 1- Department of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, School of Paramedicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran 2- Medical Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Ya


  • Introduction: The efficiency of an engineered scaffold in regenerating damaged tissue could be enhanced by stem cell seeding and drug loading. The aim of the present study is to establish a platform of scaffold, drug and stem cells for tissue engineering applications.
  • Methods: The composite scaffolds were synthesized by electrospinning of PCL/functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (f-MWCNTs) composite followed by ellagic acid (EA) liposomes loading, and adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) seeding.
  • Results: Transmission electron microscopy revealed that f-MWCNTs were well-aligned along nanofibers. Beadles fibers and fine distribution of nanoliposomes on the surface of the composite scaffold were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break and Young’s modulus were obtained at 3.37 MPA, 61%, and 15 MPa, respectively, for the composite scaffold. The scaffold showed 27% of weight loss after 56 days. UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrated 70% of ellagic acid release after 168 h. EA-loaded liposome dramatically enhanced the hydrophilicity of scaffolds. The MTT assay, DAPI staining, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, and FE-SEM images displayed the favorable seeding, proliferation, adhesion and survival of the ADMSCs on the platform.
  • Conclusion: Overall, the results suggested that a combination of ADMSCs seeding on PCL/f-MWCNT scaffolds covered with EA-loaded liposome has potential for tissue regeneration applications.
  • Keywords: Fibrous scaffold, PCL, Modified multiwall carbon nanotube, Drug delivery, Adipose derived stem cells