Mechanical Properties

Mechanical properties of nanofibrous scaffolds were measured using a TA-XT plus Texture Analyzer (Stable Microsystems, ENCO, Italy) equipped with a 5.0 kg load cell. Before testing, nanofibrous scaffolds were cut 30 × 10 mm and the strips (thickness ranging from 150 to 200 μm, thickness gauge apparatus, Mitutoyo) were clamped between two tensile grips (A/TG probe) setting an initial distance between the grips of 10.0 mm. Mechanical properties were evaluated in the dry and hydrated state. The hydration was performed by dipping the scaffolds in water up to complete hydration (1 h). Then, the upper grip was moved forward at a constant speed of 5.0 mm/s up to break. The force at break was recorded (force at break) (TS, N/mm2) and the elongation (%) was calculated as follows:

$$\rm{E\%} = 100 \times (L\_{\rm{break}} - L\_0) / L\_{\rm{break}} \tag{1}$$

where Lbreak is the distance of the two grips at scaffold breaking and L0 is the initial distance of the two grips.

Moreover, Young's Modulus (mN/cm2) was calculated as the slope of the initial linear portion of force vs. grip displacement [10,18,19].
