Appraisal of electrospun textile scaffold comprising polyurethane decorated with ginger nanofibers for wound healing applications

Abstract

Nowadays, the synthetic biodegradable polymeric scaffolds were widely utilized for skin tissue engineering applications. The usage of nanofibrous scaffold manufactured through textile technologies has gained a widespread cynosure in wound healing applications. In this study, an electrospun textile scaffold based on polyurethane polymer incorporated with ginger extracts is hypothesized to possess unique properties facilitating wound healing. The fabricated electrospun membranes were characterized through scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurements. Coagulation assays such as activated prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and hemolysis assay were performed for the electrospun membranes to determine their antithrombogenicity nature. Further, the cytocompatibility studies were evaluated using human dermal fibroblast cells to determine the toxicity of the electrospun polyurethane and their blends. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the reduced fiber (615 ± 154.31 nm) and pore (706 ± 90.07 nm) than the control (fiber diameter 1159 ± 147.48 nm and pore diameter 1087 ± 62.51 nm). Upon ginger incorporation, the wettability (80.33° ± 4.51) and surface roughness (389 nm) of the polyurethane was improved revealed in the contact angle and atomic force microscopy analysis. Infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis study revealed the interaction of ginger with polyurethane by showing hydrogen bond formation and leaving an excess residue. The fabricated nanocomposites exhibited faster blood clotting time indicated in the activated prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time. Further, hemolytic index and cytocompatibility studies revealed that the fabricated nanocomposites (Hemolytic index—0.96% and proliferation rate—159 ± 5.57%) showed nontoxic nature to the red blood cells and enhanced proliferation rate of human dermal fibroblast cells compared to the pristine polyurethane (hemolytic index—2.56% and proliferation rate—132 ± 3.61%). Our findings showed that polyurethane-based fibrous scaffolds comprising ginger exhibited desirable characteristics suitable for skin tissue engineering applications.