Characterization of Electrospun Polysuccinimide‐Dopamine Conjugates and Effect on Cell Viability and Uptake

Abstract

Biocompatible nanofibrous systems made by electrospinning have been studied widely for pharmaceutical applications since they have a high specific surface and the capability to make the entrapped drug molecule amorphous, which increases bioavailability. By covalently conjugating drugs onto polymers, the degradation of the drug as well as the fast clearance from the circulation can be avoided. Although covalent polymer–drug conjugates have a lot of advantages, there is a lack of research focusing on their nano‐formulation by electrospinning. In this study, polysuccinimide (PSI) based electrospun fibrous meshes conjugated with dopamine (DA) are prepared. Fiber diameter, mechanical properties, dissolution kinetics and membrane permeability are thoroughly investigated, as these are crucial for drug delivery and implantation. Dopamine release kinetics prove the prolonged release that influenced the viability and morphology of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and SH‐SY5Y cells. The presence of dopamine receptors on both cell types is also demonstrated and the uptake of the conjugates is measured. According to flow cytometry analysis, the conjugates are internalized by both cell types, which is influenced by the chemical structure and physical properties. In conclusion, electrospinning of PSI‐DA conjugates alters release kinetics, meanwhile, conjugated dopamine can play a key role in cellular uptake.

Improvement of Osteogenic Differentiation of Mouse Pre-Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 Cells on Core–Shell Polylactic Acid/Chitosan Electrospun Scaffolds for Bone Defect Repair

“…Aiming at the fabrication of advanced biopolymeric porous structures for regenerative medicine purposes, hybrid scaffolds form a direction of research in the pursuit of suitable implants [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Hybrid scaffolds can be composed of synthetic and natural biopolymers, thus potentially exhibiting the advantages of both kinds of materials e.g., high mechanical properties and the ability to support cell attachment and proliferation [ 5 , 6 ].…”