Abstract:In order to enhance the hydrophilicity and bioactivity of polylactide (PLLA), Laponite (LAP) with good hydrophilicity and the structure of nanodisk, was integrated into PLLA nanofiber mats using an airbrushing technique. The morphology, chemical structure, mechanical properties and hydrophilicity of the nanofiber mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT-IR), universal testing machine and contact angle measuring instrument. Their biodegradability and cytocompatability were also investigated. It was found that the airbrushing technique allowed for homogeneous introduction of LAP in PLLA matrix to form hybrid nanofiber mats with fiber diameters of 200~300 nm. LAP modification was beneficial to the improvement of the hydrophilicity of the native PLLA nanofiber mats (with water contact angle change from ~120° for PLLA to ~100° for the modified one). Composite nanofiber mats with 3% LAP presented a 2.5-fold enhancement in tensile strength and a 4-fold increase in Young''s modulus, as compared to native PLLA nanofiber mats. The LAP-modified systems displayed accelerated degradation rate probably due to their more hydrophilicity. In vitro biological evaluation displayed that the composite nanofiber mats can promote the proliferation of C2C12 cells, indicating their potential as a kind of new biomaterial for tissue regeneration.