Biodegradable and antithrombogenic chitosan/elastin blended polyurethane electrospun membrane for vascular tissue integration

Abstract

Current commercialized vascular membranes to treat coronary heart disease (CHD) such as Dacron and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) have been associated with biodegradable and thrombogenic issues that limit tissue integration. In this study, biodegradable vascular membranes were fabricated in a structure of electrospun nanofibers composed of polyurethane (PU), chitosan (CS) and elastin (0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%). The physicochemical properties of the membranes were analyzed, followed by the conduction of several test analyses. The blending of CS and elastin has increased the fiber diameter, pore size and porosity percentage with the appearance of identical chemical groups. The wettability of PU membranes was enhanced up to 39.6%, demonstrating higher degradation following the incorporation of both natural polymers. The PU/CS/elastin electrospun membranes exhibited a controlled release of CS (Higuchi and first-order mechanisms) and elastin (Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas mechanisms). Delayed blood clotting time was observed through both activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and partial thromboplastin time (PT) analyses where significantly delay of 26.8% APTT was recorded on the PU membranes blended with CS and elastin, in comparison with the PU membranes, supporting the membrane's antithrombogenic properties. Besides, these membranes produced a minimum of 2.6 ± 0.1 low hemolytic percentage, projecting its hemocompatibility to be used as vascular membrane.

Extracellular Matrix‐Bioinspired Anisotropic Topographical Cues of Electrospun Nanofibers: A Strategy of Wound Healing through Macrophage Polarization

“…This suggests that a higher concentration of elastin in the blend promoted the degradation of nanofibers, potentially supporting tissue integration and replacement. [126] [125] Copyright 2021, Elsevier B.V. B-a) The appearance of degraded PU, PU/CS, PU/CS/0.5%E, and PU/CS/1%E nanofibers. b) The weight loss measurements for each nanofiber at various time intervals (5,10,20,30, and 60 days).…”

“…This suggests that a higher concentration of elastin in the blend promoted the degradation of nanofibers, potentially supporting tissue integration and replacement. [ 126 ] Ghorbani et al. blended Zein/PCL in ratios of 70:30, 90:10, and 80:20 to create Zein/PCL (70:30)/Collagen, Zein/PCL (90:10)/Collagen, and Zein/PCL (80:20)/Collagen nanofibers.…”

“…b) The weight loss measurements for each nanofiber at various time intervals (5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 days). Reproduced with permission [126]. Copyright 2023, Wiley Periodicals LLC.…”

Electrospun Materials Based on Polymer and Biopolymer Blends—A Review

“…Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized and loaded with PU to form electrospun vascular membranes [ 83 , 84 ]. For elastin and chitosan blended and loaded with PU, the results showed that blending of chitosan and elastin improved the hemocompatibility of PU [ 85 ]. The binding of red blood cells with chitosan led to rapid blood coagulation.…”

Double-Network Chitosan-Based Hydrogels with Improved Mechanical, Conductive, Antimicrobial, and Antibiofouling Properties

“…Chitosan is currently used in drug and gene delivery, enzyme confinement, surface modification, wound healing, dialysis membranes, and bone regeneration [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Much research has been conducted in order to emphasize that chitosan has antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor, immunoadjuvant, anticholesteremic, and antithrombogenic features and the ability to increase the re-epithelization and acceleration of wound healing [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ].…”