Tailored PCL Scaffolds as Skin Substitutes Using Sacrificial PVP Fibers and Collagen/Chitosan Blends

Abstract

Electrospinning is a versatile technique for fabrication of made-on-purpose biomimetic scaffolds. In this study, optimized electrospun fibrous membranes were produced by simultaneous electrospinning of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), followed by the selective removal of PVP from the PCL/PVP mesh. After aminolysis, a blend of collagen/chitosan was grafted on the surface. Physicochemical characterizations as well as in vitro evaluations were conducted using different methods. Successful cell infiltration into samples was observed. It seems that the positive trend of cell ingress originates from the proper pore size obtained after removal of pvp (from 4.46 μm before immersion in water to 33.55 μm after immersion in water for 24 h). Furthermore, grafting the surface with the collagen/chitosan blend rendered the scaffolds more biocompatible with improved attachment and spreading of keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT). Viability evaluation through MTT assay for HDF cells did not reveal any cytotoxic effects. Antibacterial assay with Staphylococcus aureus as Gram-positive and Escherichia coli as Gram-negative species corroborated the bactericidal effects of chitosan utilized in the composition of the coated blend. The results of in vitro studies along with physicochemical characterizations reflect the great potentials of the produced samples as scaffolds for application in skin tissue engineering.

Electrospun Fibers and Sorbents as a Possible Basis for Effective Composite Wound Dressings

“…Despite that, cell growth found for fibroblast exposed to pure PCL scaffolds is in accordance with growth promotion provoked by this polymer in other cells [88]. Some evidence of cell growth promotion is given for pure PCL, for example, it was reported that the proliferation rate of the PCL exposed HDF fibroblasts is higher than the normal growth tested after 3 days [89], moreover Safaeijavan et al [90] reported an increased proliferation of human fibroblast after been exposed to PCL electrospun scaffolds at 1-6 days.…”

“…Examples of this phenomenum can be seen in [97], where the bacterial growth of the PCL's exposed E. coli is lower than control growth of E. coli during 25 h of control. In another study, electrospun fibers of pure PCL showed certain antimicrobial activity against E. coli (ATCC25922) with 16.66% drop of activity after 24 h of contact and with S. aureus (ATCC6538) with 13.33% drop of activity after 24 h of contact [89]. Finally, PCL films also showed certain reduction of bacterial forming units of E. coli and S. aureus [96].…”

Different Conditions for the Modification of Polycaprolactone Films with L-Arginine

“…It should also be noted that, in most studies, diamines treated with heat are used to modify PCL scaffolds. The maximum processing temperature does not exceed 30–40 °C [ 21 , 22 ].…”

“…It has been previously shown that the rate of aminolysis reaction increases with decreasing solvent polarity, and the maximum number of amino groups is immobilized on the surface of PCL films in the presence of methanol [ 19 ]. Indeed, isopropanol is most widely used for aminolysis of PCL scaffolds [ 21 , 22 ].…”

Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications: Production, Characterisations, Recent Trends and Difficulties

“…However, since this method is more confusing than implantation of anti-tumour medications, it is not pervasive in the chemotherapy scene. Of late, a few types of nanoparticle restorative stages, including liposomes, NPs and polymeric micelles, have been created depending on the possibility that the drug delivery system (DDS) can be delivered specifically to the tumour, with decreased circulation in typical tissues and limited undesirable side effects [ 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 ]. NC-6004, which is a CDDP-joining polymeric micellar nanoparticle, upgraded anti-tumour movement and diminished the nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity of CDDP in gastric cancer [ 136 , 137 , 138 ].…”