Fabrication and Properties of High‐Content Keratin/Poly (Ethylene Oxide) Blend Nanofibers Using Two‐Step Cross‐Linking Process

Abstract

High-content keratin/poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) (90/10) blend nanofibers were prepared by electrospinning combined with a two-step cross-linking process. The keratin/PEO aqueous solution was firstly mixed with ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) as cross-linker and then electrospun into nanofibers. The resulting nanofibrous mats were cross-linked with EGDE vapor to decrease the solubility of nanofibers in water. The morphologies and properties of electrospun fibers were investigated by SEM, FTIR, TG, XRD, and contact angle testing, respectively. The results showed that the morphologies of nanofibers were uniform at the fiber average diameter of 300 nm with negligible bead defects by adding EGDE to keratin/PEO solutions. The cross-linking results showed that EGDE vapor could improve the hydrophobic property of blended nanofibers. The crystallinity of the keratin/PEO blend nanofiber mat increased from 13.14% for the uncross-linked sample to 21.54% and 35.15% for the first cross-linked and second cross-linked samples, respectively. Free defect nanofiber mats with high keratin content producing from this two-step cross-linking process are particularly promising for tissue engineering and cell-seeded scaffold.

Vapor-Assisted Crosslinking of a FK/PVA/PEO Nanofiber Membrane

“…The absorption bands, corresponding to CH 2 and C–O–C of PEO, can be evidenced by sharp peaks at 2923 and 1100 cm −1 , respectively [22]. In addition, the absorption peaks at 954 and 841 cm −1 represent the planar structure of PEO [20]. These peaks correspond well to the established FTIR spectra of FK, PVA and PEO, which confirms that we have successfully synthesized FK/PVA/PEO membranes.…”

“…A typical adsorption band of peptide bonds (–CONH–) was observed in Figure 2, which is a clear signature of FK presence. The vibrations of the peptide bonds can be attributed to amide A, amide I, amide II and amide III [19,20]. The broad absorption band at ~3300 cm −1 corresponds to amide A.…”

In Vivo Biocompatibility and Improved Compression Strength of Reinforced Keratin/Hydroxyapatite Scaffold

“…Another major peak at 1527 cm −1 represents N-H bending vibrational bands of amide II. The broad peak related to N-H and C-N stretching vibration of amide III is presented in the region of 1221-1236 cm −1 , and the peak at 1043 cm −1 denotes S-O stretching vibration FTIR [20,21]. The FTIR spectrum of HA powder is shown in Fig.…”

Fabrication and Super-Antibacterial Property of Nanosilver/Sericin/Poly(ethylene oxide) Nanofibers through Electrospinning-Combined Postdeposition Method

“…An additional concern with this polymer for improving sericin nanofiber forming property is that it has good biodegradability, biocompatibility, and spinnability. It has been proved that the nanofiber forming property can be greatly improved by adding PEO [11][12][13]. This literature has reported that the keratin spinnability by adding the PEO is improved [14].…”