@article {15868,
	title = {Development of Nanofiber-Reinforced Hydrogel Scaffolds for Nucleus Pulposus Regeneration by a Combination of Electrospinning and Spraying Technique},
	journal = {Journal of Applied Polymer Science},
	volume = {128},
	year = {2013},
	month = {2013-04-01 00:00:00},
	pages = {1158{\textendash}1163},
	publisher = {Wiley},
	abstract = {<p>In this work a new method is presented to efficiently produce hydrogel scaffolds reinforced with nanofibers to show\&nbsp;enhanced mechanical properties and improved structural integrity. The method is based on a combination of air brush spraying of a\&nbsp;hydrogel and electrospinning of nanofibers. With air brush spraying the controllability is enhanced and the potential for scale-up\&nbsp;increased. The developed method was used to successfully reinforce gellan gum hydrogels with electrospun polycaprolactone nanofibers.\&nbsp;Optical and rheological evaluations were performed and showed that parameters such as the amount of incorporated nanofibers,\&nbsp;gellan gum concentration and calcium chloride (crosslinker) concentrations could be used to modulate material properties. Incorporation\&nbsp;of a small amount of nanofibers had a reinforcing effect and resulted in a hydrogel with rheological properties similar to the\&nbsp;human nucleus pulposus (NP). The method is flexible and carries potential for designing scaffolds for e.g. NP tissue regeneration.</p>},
	keywords = {Electrospinning, Hydrogels, Spraying Technique},
	url = {http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/app.38316/full},
	author = {Thorvaldsson, A. and Silva-Correia, J. and Oliveira, J. M. and Reis, R. L. and Gatenholm, P. and Walkenstr{\"o}m, P.}
}
