In this study, we propose to use mussel adhesive protein (MAP) as a natural biomaterial that serves as a blending partner for the preparation of sticky nanofibers which provides a facile, efficient, and multifunctionalized platform for generating novel nanofibrous scaffolds. Nanofibrous scaffolds based on MAPs with various kinds of biodegradable polymer partners were fabricated via a simple electrospinning process. Using PCL as a model blending partner, we identified that incorporation of MAP via the blending strategy strengthened the rigidity of the composite nanofibers and rendered nanofiber surfaces more hydrophilic, which indicated that MAPs were successfully exposed on the surface of the composite nanofibers. In our in vitro cell culture experiments, pre-osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation were enhanced on the PCL/MAP nanofibers compared to sole PCL nanofibers. Also, we investigated the role of PCL/MAP nanoifibers as multiple coating platforms against many types of biomolecules by simple dipping experiments without any chemical treatment. In conclusion, our novel, multiple biofunctionalized nanofiber platform based on MAPs could be a promising tool for successful tissue engineering applications.

Development of reinforced multi-functional nanofibers based on mussel adhesive proteins

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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