fabrication and optimization of bioactive cylindrical scaffold by using electrospinning for vascular tissue engineering

Aim and background: vascular regeneration relies on the growth and proliferation of injured endothelial cells, particularly in small-diameter vessels. to facilitate this process, an optimized substrate is needed to control vascular wall thickness. in this study, various strategies, including surface modification and co-electrospinning and blend-electrospinning methods, were employed to prepare nanofibrous scaffolds from polyurethane (pu), gelatin, and somatotropin. these protein biomolecules can respectively support endothelial cell attachment and proliferation.methods: assays were conducted to evaluate scaffold fiber and cell morphologies, mechanical tensile behavior, surface wettability, cell proliferation, and release kinetic profile. different scaffold fabrication techniques were compared to identify the most effective method for promoting endothelial cell growth and attachment. the release kinetics of the somatotropin growth factor from the scaffold was also studied.results and discussion: the scaffold fabricated by blending pu with gelatin and somatotropin agents demonstrated higher bioactivity than those prepared by co-electrospinning. this group showed better cell spreading and attachment, despite having lower mechanical properties. the kinetic model for the release of somatotropin showed anomalous non-fickian diffusion, likely due to the impact of polymer relaxation and erosion on somatotropin release. by incorporating somatotropin within the pu fibers, a sustained release pattern was achieved, which can enhance endothelial cell proliferation, aiding in the therapeutic goal of repairing damaged vessels.conclusion: incorporating somatotropin within nanofibrous scaffolds made from a blend of pu and gelatin can promote endothelial cell attachment and proliferation, thus facilitating vascular regeneration. this study provides insight into the effects of different scaffold fabrication techniques and releases kinetics of somatotropin growth factor, which could inform the development of more effective vascular tissue engineering strategies.