Facile In Situ Assembly of Nanofibers within Three-Dimensional Porous Matrices with Arbitrary Characteristics for Creating Biomimetic Architectures

Abstract

It is challenging to recapitulate the natural extracellular matrix’s hierarchical nano/microfibrous three-dimensional (3D) structure with multilevel pores, good mechanical and hydrophilic properties, and excellent bioactivity for designing and developing advanced biomimetic materials. This work reports a new facile strategy for the scalable manufacturing of such a 3D architecture. Natural polymers in an aqueous solution are interpenetrated into a 3D microfibrous matrix with arbitrary shapes and property characteristics to self-assemble in situ into a nanofibrous network. The collagen fiber-like hierarchical structure and interconnected multilevel pores are achieved by self-assembly of the formed nanofibers within the 3D matrix, triggered by a simple cross-linking treatment. The as-prepared alginate/polypropylene biomimetic matrices are bioactive and have a tunable mechanical property (compressive modulus from ∼17 to ∼24 kPa) and a tunable hydrophilicity (water contact angle from ∼94° to 63°). This facile and versatile strategy allows eco-friendly and scalable manufacturing of diverse biomimetic matrices or modification of any existing porous matrices using different polymers.

Noninvasive Transdermal Administration of mRNA Vaccines Encoding Multivalent Neoantigens Effectively Inhibits Melanoma Growth

“…In recent years, there has been considerable interest in the use of ethosomes (Eths) for transdermal drug delivery. − Eths is a special liposome containing alcohols of low molecular weight with small particle size, high encapsulation rate, good stability, and excellent transdermal drug delivery performance . By modification with groups such as galactose or mannose on its surface, Eths can gain the ability to target DCs for antigen delivery to trigger immune response. , Silk fibroin is widely used in the biomedical field due to their excellent biocompatibility and physicochemical properties. , The silk fiber membrane (SFM) prepared by soaking silkworm cocoon shells (SCSs) in a ternary solution (CaCl 2 /ethanol/water) has shown huge application potential for its good mechanical and breathable moisturizing properties, as well as a simple, safe, and eco-friendly preparation process. − We recently reported a TCI system based on mannosylated chitosan (MC) modified Eths (Eths MC ) and silk fibrous membranes, which can effectively stimulate the immune response of the body and has the advantages of being easy to use, noninvasive, and simple to prepare. − …”