Co-electrospun polysuccinimide/poly(vinyl alcohol) composite meshes for tissue engineering

Abstract One of the most focused-on point in biomedical and biotechnological research is the fabrication of complex tissue engineering scaffolds, with the ultimate objective being a functional, biocompatible and biodegradable implant that could facilitate and enhance tissue regeneration. Creating such implants is a highly challenging task. Physical and chemical characteristics have to be optimized and the balance between biodegradability, mechanical strength and overall practicality cannot be easily obtained. In this regard, composite materials have been regularly used in numerous areas of science and engineering as they incorporate advantages from two or more component materials. Our objective was to fabricate a composite, fibrous mesh composed of both degradable and non-degradable elements, that could be applicable as an implant with reliable mechanical properties without hindering in vivo tissue integration. In the manuscript, we present the fabrication, chemical, physical, mechanical and cytotoxic evaluation of co-electrospun polysuccinimide/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PSI/PVA) meshes. Results confirmed the presence and random distribution of both PSI and PVA fibres in the fabricated meshes. Mechanical studies indicate that meshes are competent for implantation while cell viability study revealed no cytotoxic effects.