Effect of Crosslinking Type on the Physical-Chemical Properties and Biocompatibility of Chitosan-Based Electrospun Membranes

Abstract

Chitosan nanofibrous membranes are prepared via an electrospinning technique and explored as potential wound healing patches. In particular, the effect of a physical or chemical crosslinking treatment on the mat morphological, mechanical, water-related, and biological properties is deeply evaluated. The use of phosphate ions (i.e., physical crosslinking) allows us to obtain smooth and highly homogenous nanofibers with an average size of 190 nm, whereas the use of ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (i.e., chemical crosslinking) leads to rougher, partially coalesced, and bigger nanofibers with an average dimension of 270 nm. Additionally, the physically crosslinked mats show enhanced mechanical performances, as well as greater water vapour permeability and hydrophilicity, with respect to the chemically crosslinked ones. Above all, cell adhesion and cytotoxicity experiments demonstrate that the use of phosphate ions as crosslinkers significantly improves the capability of chitosan mats to promote cell viability owing to their higher biocompatibility. Moreover, tuneable drug delivery properties are achieved for the physically crosslinked mats by a simple post-processing impregnation methodology, thereby indicating the possibility to enrich the prepared membranes with unique features. The results prove that the proposed approach may lead to the preparation of cheap, biocompatible, and efficient chitosan-based nanofibers for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications.

Evaluation on Structural Properties and Performances of Graphene Oxide Incorporated into Chitosan/Poly-Lactic Acid Composites: CS/PLA versus CS/PLA-GO

“…CS-based composite is known as a composite that has superior physical and chemical properties such as porosity, tensile strength, photo-luminescent, high surface area and conductivity as well as mechanical properties [ 3 ]. Chitin is the second most abundant natural polymer after cellulose [ 4 ], and CS is derived from chitin (exoskeletons such as prawns, crustacean shells) via deacetylation reaction; thus, it is normal that CS has received attention from many researchers. CS is easy to obtain and is also a very compatible and effective biomaterial usable for many applications, for example, in the biomedical field [ 5 , 6 ], where it serves as an alternative candidate for drug delivery because it has a regenerative effect on connective tissue [ 7 ].…”

An Up‐to‐Date Review on Alginate Nanoparticles and Nanofibers for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Applications

“…[219][220][221] Additionally, electrospun NFs can be easily enriched with unique and specific functionalities in order to meet the specific requirements for the application of interest, and can be prepared in a variety of biomimetic structures. [222][223][224][225][226] For instance, electrospun mats are able to mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) thereby representing the ideal environment to foster cell viability allowing gas exchange and nutrient transport. [227] Also, due to the fact that drugs, NPs, and other various substances can be efficiently encapsulated within the NFs, electrospun nanomaterials find great applicability in delivery applications.…”

Recent Advances in Biopolymeric Membranes towards the Removal of Emerging Organic Pollutants from Water

“…The crosslinked membranes had 90% rejection of enrofloxacin molecules at pH 3-4, which was due to the electrostatic repulsion between the positively charged enrofloxacin and membrane, whereas the enrofloxacin retention was low due to the electrostatic attraction between the positively charged membrane surface and negatively charged carboxyl groups of enrofloxacin [37]. Dodero et al [173] investigated the use of phosphate ions (i.e., Na 2 HPO 4 ) and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether as crosslinkers on chitosan nanofibrous membrane. The success of the crosslinking was measured against morphological, mechanical, water-related, and biological properties.…”