Biodegradable and Bioactive PCL−PGS Core−Shell Fibers for Tissue Engineering

Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) has increasingly become a desirable biomaterial due to its elastic mechanical properties, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Here, we report microfibrous core−shell mats of polycaprolactone (PCL)−PGS prepared using wet−wet coaxial electrospinning. The anticoagulant heparin was immobilized onto the surface of these electrospun fiber mats, and they were evaluated for their chemical, mechanical, and biological properties. The core−shell structure of PCL−PGS provided tunable degradation and mechanical properties. The slowly degrading PCL provided structural integrity, and the fast degrading PGS component increased fiber elasticity. Young’s modulus of PCL−PGS ranged from 5.6 to 15.7 MPa. The ultimate tensile stress ranged from 2.0 to 2.9 MPa, and these fibers showed elongation from 290 to 900%. The addition of PGS and grafting of heparin improved the attachment and proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Core−shell PCL− PGS fibers demonstrate improved performance as three-dimensional fibrous mats for potential tissue-engineering applications.