Abstract
A multilayer nanofibrous membrane consisting of a layer of polycaprolactone and one of physically cross-linked alginate-embedding ZnO nanoparticles is prepared via electrospinning technique as potential wound healing patches with drug delivery capabilities. A washing–cross-linking protocol is developed to obtain stable materials at the same time removing poly(ethylene oxide), which was used here as a cospinning agent for alginate, without interfering with the membrane’s peculiar nanofibrous structure. The mechanical behavior of the samples is assessed via a uniaxial tensile test showing appropriate resistance and manageability together with a good thermal stability as proved via thermogravimetric analysis. The polycaprolactone external layer enriches the samples with good liquid-repellent properties, whereas the alginate layer is able to promote tissue regeneration owing to its capability to promote cell viability and allow exudate removal and gas exchanges. Moreover, using methylene blue and methyl orange as model molecules, promising drug delivery abilities are observed for the mats. Indeed, depending on the nature and on the dye-loading concentration, the release kinetic can be easily tuned to obtain a slow controlled or a fast burst release. Consequently, the proposed alginate–polycaprolactone membrane represents a promising class of innovative, simple, and cost-effective wound healing patches appropriate for large-scale production.
Highlights
Nowadays, skin chronic diseases and traumatic damages are a great healthcare issue as they usually require long, expensive, and not always satisfactory medical treatments
The use of biocompatible and biodegradable natural polymers, such as polysaccharides [e.g., chitosan, collagen, sodium alginate (SA), and so on], in combination with the electrospinning technique has been widely investigated in order to obtain more and more efficient wound patches.[8−11] besides their good biological response, polysaccharide-based electrospun scaffolds are often difficult to obtain owing to the poor processability of the raw materials[12] and require the use of a cospinning agent and a cross-linker able to stabilize the nanofibers, which could lead to a considerable decrease of the material biocompatibility.[13,14]
A too low viscous solution usually leads to inhomogeneous fibers characterized by the presence of a high number of bead-like structures, whereas a too high viscosity is undesirable as it causes negative effects on the system processability
Summary
Skin chronic diseases (e.g., diabetic ulcers, psoriasis, and so on) and traumatic damages (e.g., burns, stab accidents, surgical events, and so on) are a great healthcare issue as they usually require long, expensive, and not always satisfactory medical treatments. Allogeneic or xenogeneic skin grafting is commonly employed It has a high risk of immune rejection and disease transmission.[1−3] Taking into account all these disadvantages, wound healing patches, which are capable of promoting tissue regeneration simultaneously offering a protection from the external environment, have gained increasing interest in the last decade, representing an extremely attractive solution to overcome the limitations of traditional therapies. The use of biocompatible and biodegradable natural polymers, such as polysaccharides [e.g., chitosan, collagen, sodium alginate (SA), and so on], in combination with the electrospinning technique has been widely investigated in order to obtain more and more efficient wound patches.[8−11] besides their good biological response, polysaccharide-based electrospun scaffolds are often difficult to obtain owing to the poor processability of the raw materials[12] and require the use of a cospinning agent (e.g., synthetic biopolymers) and a cross-linker able to stabilize the nanofibers, which could lead to a considerable decrease of the material biocompatibility.[13,14] such
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