Surface modification of electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds via polysaccharide–protein assembly multilayer for neurite outgrowth

Abstract

In this study, we present a simple yet efficient method to modify polyester electrospun fibrous scaffolds by polysaccharide-protein multilayer formation based on electrostatic interactions. Chitosan (CS) and gelatin (Gel) was selected as the polycation and polyanion, respectively, to build polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) on poly-L-lactide (PLLA) electrospun fibers via layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique. A positively charged surface was first created via the aminolysis reaction of esters in the PLLA backbone by poly(ethylene imine) (PEI), followed by consequent alternate deposition of Gel and CS. FTIR and XPS measurements confirmed alternative coating of Gel and CS, while SEM observation indicated that the scaffolds maintained the porous and fibrous morphology during PEM development. IMARIS software, which was extensively employed to reconstruct 3D images, was employed to visualize the architecture of neuronal networks and neurite development of single neurons. Our results indicated that the PEM-modification significantly enhanced cell-matrix interactions by improving cell viability and neurite outgrowth. Significantly more branches and longer neurites were obtained on Gel/CS PEM-coated fibrous scaffolds than PLLA fibrous scaffold and those after Gel or CS monolayer modification. Moreover, the component of the outermost layer showed influence on neuron growth in terms of higher cell viability as well as more branches and longer neurites being obtained on Gel-outermost coated fibrous scaffolds than those outermost coated with CS. The current study indicated that the polysaccharide-protein assembly multilayer could be employed to modify the surface of polyester fibers, thus providing a new strategy to fabricate biomimetic scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering.

Surface Modification of PLLA Nano‐scaffolds with Laminin Multilayer by LbL Assembly for Enhancing Neurite Outgrowth

“…Therefore, aminolysis has been widely employed to introduce amines to the polymer surfaces for further functions . In this study, a stable positively charged surface was firstly created by amine etching on the surface of the electrospun nanofibers by the reaction of amine group of PEI with ester group of PLLA . LN and CS, which showed zeta potentials of −4.7 ± 1.0 and 40.1 ± 3.2 at pH = 7.4, were adsorbed alternatively via LbL electrostatic assembly.…”

“…The method of electrospinning has been described in our previous studies . Briefly 2.5% w/v PLLA solution in HFIP was fed into a 2.5‐mL plastic syringe fitted with a needle with an inner diameter of 0.4 mm.…”

“…The molecular components of ECM are mainly proteins and GAGs, which can be positively or negatively charged by regulating the pH values of their solutions. In previous study, we constructed a favorable microenvironment for neurons by creating polysaccharide‐protein PEMs on electrospun fibers . In the current study, we aimed at building an artificial analog of native matrix fibrils suitable for nerve regeneration.…”

Electrospinning of Nylon11: Effect of processing parameters on morphology and microstructure

“…The mats have large surface area to volume ratio, which can be used advantageously to make water filters [1], textiles [2], sound absorbing materials [3], gas and chemical sensors [4] and scaffolds for tissue engineering applications [5,6]. In electrospinning, sub-micron polymer fibers are produced using an electro-statically driven jet of polymer solution or polymer melt.…”

Fabrication of thermoplastic ductile films of chitin butyrate/poly(ɛ-caprolactone) blends and their cytocompatibility

“…Meanwhile, poly(-caprolactone) (PCL), approved as biodegradable and biocompatible polyester, has high ductility, but its poor hydrophilicity, slow degradation kinetics, and no natural cell recognition sites greatly restrict its application in the biomedical field (Prabhakaran et al, 2008). Various kinds of physicochemical and surface modification techniques have been used to overcome these shortcomings (Dubas, Kittitheeranun, Rangkupan, Sanchavanakit, & Potiyaraj, 2009;He et al, 2012;Jeong et al, 2008;Zhu, Gao, Liu, & Shen, 2002). Even though PCL has attracted interest as a blending partner of chitinous (Chen, Sun, & Ren, 2005;Honma, Senda, & Inoue, 2003;Sarasam & Madihally, 2005;Senda, He, & Inoue, 2002;Wan, In the present study, we examined the feasibility of using chitin butyrate (ChB, N = 4)/PCL (50/50 in weight) based films prepared by hot-pressing as a thermoplastic flexible cell scaffold system.…”