Core-shell structured PEO/HA nanofibers could be produced from electric field inducing phase separation
during the electrospinning progress. Hyaluronic acid (HA) molecules could move along the opposite
direction of the electric field under the electrostatic force, which induced phase separation from PEO to
form the core layer of nanofibers. The morphology of coreeshell nanofibers was supported using
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Thermal analysis and
X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the fibers had good thermal stability and HA hindered the
crystallization of the PEO. The presence of PEO on the surface was also verified by X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy (XPS) analysis as further evidence of coreeshell formation during the process of electrospinning.
Methylthiazolydiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was employed to investigate the
toxic and cytocompatibility with the aim of demonstrating the possible application for tissue engineering
scaffolds. Furthermore, In vitro cytotoxicity against fibroblasts cells culture demonstrated the nanofibers
as scaffolds were biocompatible and nontoxic.