Effect of molecular weight and content of polyvinylpyrrolidone on cell proliferation, loading capacity and properties of electrospun green tea essential oil-incorporated polyamide-6/polyvinylpyrrolidone nanofibers

Abstract

Electrospun nanofibers demonstrate a novel category of materials that display great potential in numerous biomedical applications including tissue engineering, drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and wound healing. Here, composite nanofibrous scaffolds of polyamide-6 (PA-6), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and tea tree oil (TTO) was fabricated by electrospinning method and the effect of various molecular weight of PVP on properties of produced fiber scaffolds was studied. The investigations showed that the increase in the molecular weight of PVP, as well as the decrease in its content provides the thinner fibers (220.90 ± 59.0 nm) with higher porosity (∼90%), high water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) (3945. g/m2.24 h), and low surface wettability (∼85°). The morphological investigation accomplished with scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed the uniform bead-free electrospun fibers scaffold. The structural characteristics of the produced scaffolds were investigated with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The results of the mechanical test of the produced fibers confirmed their ability to protect the wound area against external forces during the healing process. Antibacterial and antioxidant tests of samples containing TTO showed excellent and strong activities. Besides, the in vitro cytotoxicity, and cell adhesion was evaluated, that the obtained results illustrated that the electrospun fibers were biocompatible and supported cell adhesion. Based on the findings, this new electrospun matrix is expected to be effective as a potential wound dressing for skin regeneration.