Journal of Bionic Engineering ›› 2024, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (4): 1949-1959.doi: 10.1007/s42235-024-00520-8
Electrospun Aloe Vera Extract Loaded Polycaprolactone Scaffold for Biomedical Applications: A Promising Candidate for Corneal Stromal Regeneration
Amin Orash Mahmoud Salehi1 ; Mohammad Rafienia2 ; Narsimha Mamidi3 ; Saeed Heidari Keshel4,7; Alireza Baradaran-Rafii5,6
- 1 Department of Chemistry and Nanotechnology, School of Engineering and Science, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon 64849, Mexico 2 Biosensor Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746-73461, Iran 3 Wisconsin Center for NanoBioSystems, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA 4 Medical Nanotechnology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19857-17443, Iran 5 Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Research Center, Labbafinejad Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19395-4631, Iran 6 Department of Ophthalmology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA 7 Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Science, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19857-17443, Iran
Electrospun Aloe Vera Extract Loaded Polycaprolactone Scaffold for Biomedical Applications: A Promising Candidate for Corneal Stromal Regeneration
Amin Orash Mahmoud Salehi1 ; Mohammad Rafienia2 ; Narsimha Mamidi3 ; Saeed Heidari Keshel4,7; Alireza Baradaran-Rafii5,6
- 1 Department of Chemistry and Nanotechnology, School of Engineering and Science, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon 64849, Mexico 2 Biosensor Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 81746-73461, Iran 3 Wisconsin Center for NanoBioSystems, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53705, USA 4 Medical Nanotechnology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19857-17443, Iran 5 Department of Ophthalmology, Ophthalmic Research Center, Labbafinejad Medical Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19395-4631, Iran 6 Department of Ophthalmology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA 7 Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Science, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19857-17443, Iran
摘要： Corneal diseases, the second leading cause of global vision loss affecting over 10.5 million people, underscores the unmet demand for corneal tissue replacements. Given the scarcity of fresh donor corneas and the associated risks of immune rejection, corneal tissue engineering becomes imperative. Developing nanofibrous scaffolds that mimic the natural corneal structure is crucial for creating transparent and mechanically robust corneal equivalents in tissue engineering. Herein, Aloe Vera Extract (AVE)/Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous scaffolds were primed using electrospinning. The electrospun AVE/PCL fibers exhibit a smooth, bead-free morphology with a mean diameter of approximately 340±95 nm and appropriate light transparency. Mechanical measurements reveal Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength values of around 3.34 MPa and 4.58 MPa, respectively, within the range of stromal tissue. In addition, cell viability of AVE/PCL fibers was measured against Human Stromal Keratocyte Cells (HSKCs), and improved cell viability was observed. The cell-fiber interactions were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. In conclusion, the incorporation of Aloe Vera Extract enhances the mechanical, optical, hydrophilic, and biological properties of PCL fibers, positioning PCL/AVE fiber scaffolds as promising candidates for corneal stromal regeneration.