The oral mucosa is a promising absorption site for drug administration
because it is permeable, highly vascularized and allows for ease of
administration. Nanofiber scaffolds for local or systemic drug delivery through
the oral mucosa, however, have not been fully explored. In this work, we
fabricated electrospun gelatin nanofiber scaffolds for oral mucosal drug
delivery. To improve structural stability of the electrospun gelatin scaffolds
and allow non-invasive incorporation of therapeutics into the scaffold, we
employed photo-reactive polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA575, 575
gmol−1) as a cross-linker to stabilize the scaffold by
forming semi-interpenetrating network gelatin nanofiber scaffolds (sIPN NSs),
during which cross-linker concentration was varied (1X, 2X, 4X, and 8X). The
results showed that electrospun gelatin nanofiber scaffolds after being
cross-linked with PEG-DA575 (i.e., sIPN NS1X, 2X, 4X, and 8X) retained fiber
morphology and possessed improved structural stability. A series of structural
parameters and properties of the cross-linked electrospun gelatin scaffolds were
systematically characterized in terms of morphology, fiber diameter, mechanical
properties, porosity, swelling and degradation. Mucin absorption onto sIPN NS4X
was also confirmed, indicating this scaffold possessed greatest mucoadhesion
properties among those tested. Slow release of nystatin, an anti-fungal reagent,
from the sIPN gelatin nanofiber scaffold was demonstrated.
Wound dressings are critical for wound care because they provide a physical barrier between the injury site and outside environment, preventing further damage or infection. Wound dressings also manage and even encourage the wound healing process for proper recovery. Polysaccharide biopolymers are slowly becoming popular as modern wound dressings materials because they are naturally derived, highly abundant, inexpensive, absorbent, non-toxic and non-immunogenic. Polysaccharide biopolymers have also been processed into biomimetic platforms that offer a bioactive component in wound dressings that aid the healing process. This review primarily focuses on the fabrication and biocompatibility assessment of polysaccharide materials. Specifically, fabrication platforms such as electrospun fibers and hydrogels, their fabrication considerations and popular polysaccharides such as chitosan, alginate, and hyaluronic acid among emerging options such as arabinoxylan are discussed. A survey of biocompatibility and bioactive molecule release studies, leveraging polysaccharide’s naturally derived properties, is highlighted in the text, while challenges and future directions for wound dressing development using emerging fabrication techniques such as 3D bioprinting are outlined in the conclusion. This paper aims to encourage further investigation and open up new, disruptive avenues for polysaccharides in wound dressing material development.
Non-isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPU) have rapidly emerged as a sustainable, less toxic, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional isocyanate-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) synthesis. TPU is widely used in the medical industry due to its excellent mechanical properties and elasticity. However, little work has been done to synthesize and electrospin NIPU into fibrous mats for biomedical applications. In this work, melt polymerization of a plant oil-based cyclic carbonate monomer with polyether soft segments and various diamines yielded isocyanate-free, segmented poly(amide hydroxyurethane)s (PAHUs). Electrospinning of segmented PAHUs afforded ductile, free-standing fibrous mats with Young's modulus values between 7 and 8 MPa, suitable for tissue scaffold applications. PAHU fiber mats exhibited 3-4 times greater water uptake than the electrospun TPU control, demonstrating potential utility in drug delivery. Fibroblasts adhered to electrospun PAHU fibrous mats with viability values over 90% after 72-h, validating its biocompatibility. The results highlight the high performance and potential of electrospun isocyanate-free polyurethanes mats for biomedical application.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.