Biodegradable polymeric materials are used in tissue engineering applications ranging from sutures, staples, and screws to nanofiber meshes for the regeneration of nerve, muscle, and bone. As polymeric materials obviate the need for post-operative surgery, they are generally preferred over non-degradable options. However, they are not always well integrated to the body due to mismatched mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. To optimize the mechanical properties of polymer fibers, we have incorporated programmable, high-modulus D,L-cyclic peptide (DLCP) nanotubes.  DLCPs were blended at weight percentages (1-10%) with poly-D,L-lactic acid, and electrospun into composite nanofibers, imparting variable moduli. As DLCPs are highly programmable, the same composite synthesis methodology developed herein will be applicable to the reinforcement of a variety of polymers. Furthermore, DLCP-infused polymer composites of alternate chemistries may display complex functionality including electrical conductance and biological activity, thereby increasing the utility of biodegradable polymers in tissue engineering.

Composite nanofibers containing self-assembled D,L-cyclic peptide nanotubes exhibit tunable mechanical properties

245th National Meeting (2013)

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