A bi-layer electrospun polyurethane/silicone membrane scaffold: drug delivery and cytotoxicity studies

In this study, a bi-layer scaffold combining polyurethane nanofibrous and silicone membrane layers was produced. Chemical, morphological and physical properties of the scaffolds were determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses, respectively. The surface properties were examined with the contact angle test. To evaluate the encapsulation and release behaviour of the scaffolds Rhodamine B and Nile red were used as model drugs. Further, the cytotoxicity and cell proliferation investigations were carried out using mouse embryonic fibroblasts cell lines. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazoyl-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and SEM were used to investigate the cell viability and cell-scaffold interactions, respectively. The results of the study were evaluated in order to develop a bimodal drug release system that has the potential to be used in tissue engineering applications.