Mechano-active tissue scaffold system based on a magnetic nanoparticle embedded nanofibrous membrane

A mechano-active nanofibrous scaffold system for in vitro active cell culture is fabricated and demonstrated using electrospun nanofibers with magnetic nanoparticles embedded, and an electromagnet. The electrospun nanofiber consists of polycaprolactone and iron oxide nanoparticles. The magnetic nanofibrous membrane is held by micromachined printing circuit board (PCB) O-rings and remotely actuated by an electromagnet, which generates alternating current (AC) magnetic fields. The scaffold provides mechanical stress and strain on culturing cells in response to external AC magnetic fields. The mechanical properties of the magnetic nanoporous membrane including the density, porosity, and effective Young's modulus are characterized. Cell viabilities on the nanofibrous membrane with and without magnetic nanoparticles embedded have been tested.