Electrospun poly (Ɛ-caprolactone)-eggshell membrane nanofibrous mat as a potential wound dressing material

Abstract

Eggshell membrane (ESM) is a highly-collagenized, biopolymeric fibrous network generally considered domestic and industrial waste. However, its inherent extraordinary properties have made ESM widely used in different fields due to its high potential applications, especially in the biomedical field. In this study, a poly (Ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) integrated ESM (PCL/ESM) nanofibrous mat is fabricated using an electrospinning technique to produce wound dressing materials with enhanced biocompatibility and antibacterial efficacy for potent tissue regeneration. The physicochemical, biological, and mechanical properties of the electrospun fabricated nanofibrous mat PCL (15% w/v) and PCL/ESM (0.5% w/v, 1.5% w/v, and 2.5% w/v) were investigated using FE-SEM, ATR-FTIR, DSC, and XRD. In addition, the water uptake ability, degradability, cell viability, and antibacterial activity of the mats were evaluated. The FTIR results revealed that the molecular interactions of ESM with the PCL are through hydrogen bond formation. The morphology and the nanofiber dimension of the electrospun fabricated mat are within the collagen dimensions present in the extracellular matrix. The overall results confirm that the PCL/ESM (2.5% w/v) have shown the most excellent mechanical properties with high biocompatibility and efficient antibacterial activity among the other fabricated mat. Therefore, this study suggests that electrospun PCL/ESM mat could be a potential material for wound dressing.