Incorporation of poly(ethylene glycol) grafted cellulose nanocrystals in poly(lactic acid) electrospun nanocomposite fibers as potential scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-grafted cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were successfully synthesized and incorporated into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) as a reinforcing filler to produce nanocomposite scaffolds consisting of CNC-g-PEG and PLA using an electrospinning technique. Morphological, thermal, mechanical, and wettability properties as well as preliminary biocompatibility using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) of PLA/CNC and PLA/CNC-g-PEG nanocomposite scaffolds were characterized and compared. The average diameter of the electrospun nanofibers decreased with increased filler loading level, due to the increased conductivity of the electrospun solutions.