Development of polymer based support materials for volumetric skeletal muscle damage

Volumetric muscle losses, which constitute an important social and economic burden, affect millions of people every year due to accidents, wars and tumor operations. Although skeletal muscle structure has a natural repair mechanism, it cannot provide self-healing in losses above critical level. This causes serious functional damage and aesthetic deficiencies. Skeletal muscle tissue engineering approaches have focused on functional tissue scaffolding designs to support volumetric muscle loss and guide cellular behavior. In this thesis, it is aimed to develop polymer based support materials for volumetric skeletal muscle injuries. For this purpose, poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) based aligned fiber scaffolds were prepared in order to mimic natural muscle tissue and provide an electrical activity for cellular development and orientation. A computer-aided Rotational Wet Spinning System (DIED) was developed for fiber production. Silver nanowire (AgNT) containing PCL-AgNT composite fiber scafolds were produced with high yield. The optimization of DIED production parameters were carried in terms of PCL molecular weight, solvent system, precipitation bath temperature, PCL and AgNT concentrations etc. The chemical, morphological, thermal properties and biodegradation profiles of fibers were characterized. The proliferation behavior and morphology of C2C12 mouse myoblast skeletal muscle cells were investigated on PCL and PCL-AgNT composite fibers scaffolds under electrical stimulation and without electrical stimulation. On the 7th day of cell culture studies, higher cell proliferation and viability were observed on PCL-AgNT composite fiber surfaces compared to PCL fibers under 1.5 V and 3 V electrical stimulation. Within the scope of the thesis, composite fiber formulations with antibacterial properties were also developed with DIED. Antibacterial drug active agent sulfatiazole - AgNT complex was prepared and composite fiber production was carried out with DIED. Antibacterial properties of Sulfatiazole - AgNT loaded fibers were examined for 4 different bacteria types by disk diffusion test, and early stage bacterial adhesion studies were carried out with high success bacteria types. As a result, PCL-AgNT composite fibers and their antibacterial forms provided successful and promising properties as candidates for skeletal muscle tissue support materials.