Fabrication, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of Airbrushed Gelatin Nanofibers

Abstract

Gelatin nanofibers have gained significant attention for different biomedical applications, as they provide a suitable environment for cell attachment, growth, and proliferation compared to the other biopolymers and synthetic polymers. Airbrushing/solution-blow-spinning could overcome the limitation of the conventional electrospinning method of nanofiber preparation. The present study reports the fabrication of nano/microfibers from commercially available low-molecular-weight gelatin of animal origin as a first-time study. The effect of various airbrushing parameters, namely, the concentration of gelatin solution, air pressure, and polymer solution flow rate on the fiber quality, morphology, and diameters, was studied. Finally, the biological evaluation of the airbrushed gelatin nanofibers was performed using human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). Gelatin nanofibers exhibit excellent biocompatibility and support the growth of hBMSCs similar to electrospun gelatin nanofibers. Our airbrushing technique is an easy, low-cost, and scalable method to fabricate the gelatin nanofibers for different biomedical applications such as tissue engineering, wound healing, and substrate for delivery of bioactive molecules.

Electrospun nanofibers for bone regeneration: from biomimetic composition, structure to function

“…125 With abundant hydroxyl, carboxyl and amino groups in the molecular structures, GEL can supply a more suitable environment for cell attachment, proliferation and growth, compared with some other synthetic polymers even biopolymers. 126 Therefore, GEL demonstrates desirable application potentials in biomedical fields such as tissue engineering and wound healing. 127 Unfortunately, GEL exhibits overly hydrophilic properties and a rapid degradation rate, which may result in the fast dissolution during cell culture or implantation.…”

Co‐Axial Gyro‐Spinning of PCL/PVA/HA Core‐Sheath Fibrous Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering

“…The bead‐free fiber morphologies are indicative of suppression of capillary instability and the dominant viscoelasticity of the polymer solutions during fiber spinning. [ 46–48 ]…”

Advances in Functional Polymer Nanofibers: From Spinning Fabrication Techniques to Recent Biomedical Applications

“…In recent years, micro-/nanofibers nonwovens have emerged as a promising class of wound dressings. , This renewed interest relies on the inherent high porosity and surface area to volume ratio exhibited by fiber matrices, which affords a proper control of moisture balance at the wound site and facilitates the gas permeation, transport of nutrients, as well as the metabolic waste elimination. Additionally, these matrices mimic the native extracellular matrix (ECM) structure, thus serving as a template for attachment, growth, and migration for skin cells and consequently stimulate tissue regeneration. ,− …”

“…Numerous studies have reported the application of micro-/nanofibrous scaffolds as skin substitutes and wound dressings. ,− Chantre et al investigated the performance of centrifugal spun nanofiber scaffolds composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) on cutaneous tissue repair. By centrifugal spinning, the researchers were able to prepare highly porous HA scaffold in a large scale.…”