Abstract
Fibrin is an optimal scaffold for tissue-engineering applications because it mimics the extracellular matrix. Despite this interesting feature, fibrin gel owns only poor mechanical properties that limit its applications. Different approaches have been used for fibrin electrospinning, however all the methods investigated required washing steps, cross-linking agent treatment or immersion. The aim of this work was to produce a bilayered fibrin/polyurethane scaffold by combination of the electrospun method and the spray, phase-inversion method for the preparation of a fibrin nanostructured layer to be attached onto a poly(ether)urethane microporous support layer. The synthetic layer was obtained by the spray, phase-inversion technique onto a rotating metallic collector, while fibrinogen was processed to obtain a nanofibrous structure by electrospinning. Finally, fibrin polymerization was obtained by thrombin solution spraying onto the electrospun nanofibers. SEM analysis showed the formation of filamentous structure with diameter in the range of μm attached onto the synthetic layer. This scaffold could be applied in soft tissue regeneration such as wound healing or as drug delivery system.
Highlights
Fibrin is a naturally occurring plasma protein that functions as a major element in the coagulation cascade, contributing to clot formation, cell interaction and wound healing
SEM images of poly(ether)urethane scaffold showed a microporous surface with pores of diameter 41.8 ± 21.5 μm (Fig. 1A,a), while the electrospun fibrinogen on the spray layer loaded with thrombin fibrin fiber resulted in a diameter on the micron order (4.8 ± 3.5 μm) (Fig. 1B,b)
The final treatment with thrombin solution, through the spray technique induces a modification of the morphology of the electrospun filament fibrin layer
Summary
Fibrin is a naturally occurring plasma protein that functions as a major element in the coagulation cascade, contributing to clot formation, cell interaction and wound healing For these biological properties, fibrin gel was widely investigated as a hemostatic agent in surgery[1], as a scaffold in tissue-engineering applications[2], as an angiogenic promoter in vascular graft endothelialisation[3], and as a drug delivery system in wound healing[4]. Fibrin is an excellent scaffold for tissue-engineering applications because it mimics the extracellular matrix and improves cellular interaction with the scaffold Despite these features, the poor mechanical properties of fibrin gel render it unsuitable for clinical applications in which it is necessary to handle fibrin gel or to provide mechanical strength, such as in wound healing. The aim of this work was to produce a bilayered fibrin/polyurethane scaffold, by combination of the electrospun method and the spray, phase-inversion method for the preparation of a composite scaffold constituted by a fibrin nanostructured layer attached onto a polyurethane microporous support layer
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