Objective       To investigate the feasibility of Poly(L-lactide-co-caprolactone) [P(LLA-CL)

]

nanoyarn prepared by a novel electrospinning method as annulus fibrous tissue engineering scaffold

and evaluate the physicochemical properties and cytocompatibility of the scaffold.       Methods       On the basis of traditional electrospinning method which used to prepare P(LLA-CL) nanofiber scaffold

a novel P(LLA-CL) nanoyarn scaffolds were prepared by dynamic liquid electrospinning. These scaf

folds were characterized in terms of fiber morphology

fiber diameter

pore size

porosity

and mechanical properties. Rabbit annulus fibrous (AF) cells were isolated and seeded on the scaffolds. Cell morphology

attachment

proliferation and infiltration of AF cells on the scaffolds were evaluated respectively.       Results       The surface of nanofiber scaffolds presented compact reticular structure in random fibers arrangement. Surface of nanoyarn scaffolds showed loose porous structure but in certain orientation arrangement. The pore size and porosity were 38.43±15.54 μm

and (86.7±9.3)% respectively of the nanoyarn scaffolds

significantly higher than the nanofiber scaffolds [4.57±1.87 μm

(74.2±1.5)%

P

0.05

]

. The mechanical properties of both scaffolds were similar. CCK-8 assay results showed that cell proliferation in the nanoyarn scaffolds were obviously higher than in the nanofiber scaffolds (

P

0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed considerable AF cells were infiltrated into the nanoyarn scaffolds

while only grew on the surface of the nanofiber scaffolds.       Conclusion       Electrospinning P(LLA-CL) nanoyarn scaffolds present 3-D porous structure and good cytocompability. It would be a promising scaffold for annulus fibrosus tissue engineering.