Polycaprolactone Nanofibers Research Articles

A New Lotus-Leaf-Inspired Beaded Nanofiber Strategy for the Development of Cryogel/Nanofiber Hybrid Structures

In this study, a cryogel/nanofiber hybrid material was developed using a new lotus-leaf-inspired strategy. The lotus effect was generated via beaded poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanofibers produced from the 9 wt% PCL solution with low viscosity and high surface tension via electrospinning. A poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) cryogel layer was constructed through polymerization onto the beaded PCL nanofibrous mat. The thickness of the PHEMA cryogel/beaded PCL nanofiber hybrid material was 3.19 ± 0.07 mm. Morphological characterization studies of the hybrid material were conducted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The mean diameter of the beaded PCL nanofibers was 97.22 ± 21.18 nm. The lotus effect created by the beaded PCL nanofibers was investigated by water contact angle (WCA) measurements. The WCA of beadless and beaded PCL nanofibers was 93.42° ± 1.4° and 117.97° ± 5.04°, respectively. The PHEMA cryogel layer was chemically characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis and the specific groups belonging to 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) was observed. The porosity of the PHEMA cryogel layer was determined via mercury porosimetry. The total porosity of the PHEMA cryogel was 64.42%, and the pore sizes were in the range of 5–200 µm. Swelling kinetics of the PHEMA cryogel/beaded PCL nanofiber hybrid material were also investigated and compared to those of PHEMA cryogel and beaded PCL nanofibers. The maximum swelling ratio of the hybrid material was 509.69% and reached after 180 min. The developed PHEMA cryogel/beaded PCL nanofiber hybrid material met the criteria required for layered structures and biomedical applications whereby its eligible stability, morphology, porosity, and swelling capacity. Consequently, the lotus-leaf-inspired strategy was successful in constructing the cryogel/nanofiber hybrid materials.

Hydrophilic/Hydrophobic Janus Nanofibers Containing Compound K for Cartilage Regeneration.

Cartilage regeneration is a challenging issue due to poor regenerative properties of tissues. Electrospun nanofibers hold enormous potentials for treatments of cartilage defects. However, nanofibrous materials used for the treatment of cartilage defects often require physical and/or chemical modifications to promote the adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of cells. Thus, it is highly desirable to improve their surface properties with functionality. We aim to design hydrophilic, adhesive, and compound K-loaded nanofibers for treatments of cartilage defects. Hydrophilic and adhesive compound K-containing polycaprolactone nanofibers (CK/PCL NFs) were prepared by coatings of gallic acid-conjugated chitosan (CHI-GA). Therapeutic effects of CHI-GA/CK/PCL NFs were assessed by the expression level of genes involved in the cartilage matrix degradation, inflammatory response, and lipid accumulations in the chondrocytes. In addition, Cartilage damage was evaluated by safranin O staining and immunohistochemistry of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) using OA animal models. To explore the pathway associated with therapeutic effects of CHI-GA/CK/PCL NFs, cell adhesion, phalloidin staining, and the expression level of integrins and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARs) were evaluated. CHI-GA-coated side of the PCL NFs showed hydrophilic and adhesive properties, whereas the unmodified opposite side remained hydrophobic. The expression levels of genes involved in the degradation of the cartilage matrix, inflammation, and lipogenesis were decreased in CHI-GA/CK/PCL NFs owing to the release of CK. In vivo implantation of CHI-GA/CK/PCL NFs into the cartilage reduced cartilage degradation induced by destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) surgery. Furthermore, the accumulation of lipid deposition and expression levels of IL-1β was reduced through the upregulation of PPAR. CHI-GA/CK/PCL NFs were effective in the treatments of cartilage defects by inhibiting the expression levels of genes involved in cartilage degradation, inflammation, and lipogenesis as well as reducing lipid accumulation and the expression level of IL-1β via increasing PPAR.

Aligned Nanofibers Promote Myoblast Polarization and Myogenesis through Activating Rac-Related Signaling Pathways.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a crucial role in regulating cellular behaviors and functions. However, the impact of ECM topography on muscle cell adhesion and differentiation remains poorly understood from a mechanosensing perspective. In this study, we fabricated aligned and random electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers to mimic the structural characteristics of ECM. Mechanism investigations revealed that the orientation of nanofibers promoted C2C12 polarization and myogenesis through Rac-related signaling pathways. Conversely, cells cultured on random fibers exhibited spreading behavior mediated by RhoA/ROCK pathways, resulting in enhanced stress fiber formation but reduced capacity for myogenic differentiation. Our findings highlight the critical role of an ECM structure in muscle regeneration and damage repair, providing novel insights into mechanosensing mechanisms underlying muscle injury diseases.

Biofabrication of biomimetic undulating microtopography at the dermal-epidermal junction and its effects on the growth and differentiation of epidermal cells.

The undulating microtopography located at the junction of the dermis and epidermis of the native skin is called rete ridges (RRs), which plays an important role in enhancing keratinocyte function, improving skin structure and stability, and providing three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment for skin cells. Despite some progress in recent years, most currently designed and manufactured tissue-engineered skin models still cannot replicate the RRs, resulting in a lack of biological signals in the manufactured skin models. In this study, a composite manufacturing method including electrospinning, 3D printing, and functional coating was developed to produce the epidermal models with RRs. Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were firstly electrospun to mimic the extracellular matrix environment and be responsible for cell attachment. PCL microfibers were then printed onto top of the PCL nanofibers layer by 3D printing to quickly prepare undulating microtopography and finally the entire structures were dip-coated with gelatin hydrogel to form a functional coating layer. The morphology, chemical composition, and structural properties of the fabricated models were studied. The results proved that the multi-process composite fabricated models were suitable for skin tissue engineering. Live and dead staining, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) as well as histology (haematoxylin and eosin (HE) methodology) and immunofluorescence (primary and secondary antibodies combination assay) were used to investigate the viability, metabolic activity, and differentiation of skin cells forin vitroculturing.In vitroresults showed that each model had high cell viability, good proliferation, and the expression of differentiation marker. It was worth noting that the sizes of the RRs affected the cell growth status of the epidermal models. In addition, the unique undulation characteristics of the epidermal-dermal junction can be reproduced in the developed epidermal models. Overall, thesein vitrohuman epidermal models can provide valuable reference for skin transplantation, screening and safety evaluation of drugs and cosmetics.

THE EFFECT OF ESSENTIAL OIL ON FIBER MORPHOLOGY AND SURFACE PROPERTIES IN COAXIAL NANOFIBERS

In this study, core-shell nanofibers were produced by using hydrophilic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) polymer in the core and hydrophobic poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) polymer in the shell. Essential oil added nanofiber structures were developed by adding thyme oil (TEO) and borage oil (BO) in the PVP core part by using Triton X 100 (TX-100) as the surfactant. 8% PVP-8% PCL nanofibers were produced by adding TEO, BO and a 1:1 volume/volume mixture of these two (TEO:BO) to the PVP solution. Addition of essential oil and surfactant to the solutions resulted in different conductivity and viscosity values. SEM images were analyzed and it was observed that nanofiber diameters increased when essential oil and surfactant were added to the core of the coaxial nanofibers. Pristine, TEO-added, TEO:BO added and BO-added nanofibers were calculated as 145 ± 66, 233 ± 150, 245 ± 165 and 300 ± 124 nm, respectively. Besides, water contact angle measurements showed that TX-100 and essential oil additives caused high hydrophilization of nanofiber by changing the hydrophobic nature of PCL. While the contact angle of the 8% PVP-8% PCL sample without additives were 98°, the contact angle of the oil and surfactant containing samples were measured as 0°. In conclusion, it was observed that the nanofiber morphology and surface properties changed when different essential oils and surfactant were added to the core-shell nanofibers.

Improving rodents and humans cardiac cell maturity in vitro through polycaprolactone and polyurethane nanofibers

Currently, numerous studies are conducted using nanofibers as a scaffold for culture cardiac cells; however, there still needs to be more research evaluating the impact of the physicochemical properties of polymer nanofibers on the structure and function of cardiac cells. We have studied how poly(ϵ-caprolactone) and polyurethane nanofibrous mats with different physicochemical properties influence the viability, morphology, orientation, and maturation of cardiac cells. For this purpose, the cells taken from different species were used. They were rat ventricular cardiomyoblasts (H9c2), mouse atrial cardiomyocytes (CMs) (HL-1), and human ventricular CMs. Based on the results, it can be concluded that cardiac cells cultured on nanofibers exhibit greater maturity in terms of orientation, morphology, and gene expression levels compared to cells cultured on polystyrene plates. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of nanofibers affecting the functionality of cardiac cells from different species and different parts of the heart were evaluated. These studies can support research on understanding and explaining mechanisms leading to cellular maturity present in the heart and the selection of nanofibers that will effectively help the maturation of CMs.

Electrospun statin‐loaded nanofibers for treating diabetic wounds

AbstractThis study aims to develop, characterize, and evaluate the best statin‐loaded Collagen Silver nanoparticle‐coated polycaprolactone nanofibers by electrospinning technique. The characterization and evaluation results reveal that nanofibers had shown an aligned Collagen Silver nanoparticle‐coated polycaprolactone nanofibers distribution of fibers and aliment of collagen and silver nanoparticle coating material on the surface of the nanofibers. Furthermore, the electrospun nanofibers have shown no interaction between the drug and collagen and PCL polymeric material and have demonstrated controlled drug release for 360 h and significant degradation for 60 days of the study. In vitro, among the nanofiber treatment groups and the control groups, Pravastatin Collagen Silver nanoparticle‐coated polycaprolactone nanofibers have shown cell proliferation and migration of NHDF cells and blood vessel development in the CAM assay and potential anti‐bacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. In vivo, the Pravastatin Collagen Silver nanoparticle‐coated polycaprolactone nanofibers have demonstrated improved wound recovery, re‐epithelization, fibroblast cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and ECM remodeling and enhanced VEGF‐sprouting in the excised tissues of streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats for 7, 14, and 21 days of the study. Therefore, the developed Pravastatin Collagen Silver nanoparticle‐coated polycaprolactone nanofibers could be a promising wound‐dressing platform for effectively treating and managing diabetic wounds.Highlights Nanofiber wound dressings provide numerous structural features in biomaterials. Polycaprolactone can release the repurposed statin molecules into the wound site in a controlled manner. In diabetic wounds, ECM tissue remodeling stimulates repair and vessel growth. Pravastatin has been demonstrated to improve angiogenesis and ECM secretion for wound healing in diabetic conditions.

Antimicrobial Activity of Polycaprolactone Nanofiber Coated with Lavender and Neem Oil Nanoemulsions against Airborne Bacteria.

The development of efficient, eco-friendly antimicrobial agents for air purification and disinfection addresses public health issues connected to preventing airborne pathogens. Herein, the antimicrobial activity of a nanoemulsion (control, 5%, 10%, and 15%) containing neem and lavender oils with polycaprolactone (PCL) was investigated against airborne bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. Various parameters such as the physicochemical properties of the nanoemulsion, pH, droplet size, the polydispersity index (PDI), the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the minimum bacterial concentration (MBC), and the color measurement of the emulsion have been evaluated and optimized. Our results showed that the antimicrobial activity of PCL combined with neem and lavender oil was found to be the highest MIC and MBC against all tested bacteria. The droplet sizes for lavender oil are 21.86-115.15 nm, the droplet sizes for neem oil are 23.92-119.15 nm, and their combination is 25.97-50.22 nm. The range of pH and viscosity of nanoemulsions of various concentrations was found to be 5.8 to 6.6 pH and 0.372 to 2.101 cP. This study highlights the potential of nanotechnology in harnessing the antimicrobial properties of natural essential oils, paving the way for innovative and sustainable solutions in the fight against bacterial contamination.

Fabrication of gelatin coated polycaprolactone nanofiber scaffolds co-loaded with luliconazole and naringenin for treatment of Candida infected diabetic wounds

The current study focuses on the development of gelatin-coated polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers co-loaded with luliconazole and naringenin for accelerated healing of infected diabetic wounds. Inherently, PCL nanofibers have excellent biocompatibility and biodegradation profiles but lack bioadhesion characteristics, which limits their use as dressing materials. So, coating them with a biocompatible and hydrophilic material like gelatin can improve bioadhesion. The preparation of nanofibers was done with the electrospinning technique. The solid state characterization and in-vitro performance assessment of nanofibers indicate the formation of uniformly interconnected nanofibers of 200–400 nm in diameter with smooth surface topography, excellent drug entrapment, and a surface pH of 5.6–6.8. The antifungal study showed that the nanofiber matrix exhibits excellent biofilm inhibition activity against several strains of Candida. Further, in-vivo assessment of nanofiber performance on C. albicans infected wounds in diabetic rats indicated accelerated wound healing efficacy in comparison to gauge-treated groups. Additionally, a higher blood flow and rapid re-epithelialization of wound tissue in the treatment group corroborated with the results obtained in the wound closure study. Overall, the developed dual-drug-loaded electrospun nanofiber mats have good compatibility, surface properties, and excellent wound healing potential, which can provide an extra edge in the management of complex diabetic wounds.

Polycaprolactone Nanofibers Functionalized by Fibronectin/Gentamicin and Implanted Silver for Enhanced Antibacterial Properties, Cell Adhesion, and Proliferation.

Novel nanomaterials used for wound healing should have many beneficial properties, including high biological and antibacterial activity. Immobilization of proteins can stimulate cell migration and viability, and implanted Ag ions provide an antimicrobial effect. However, the ion implantation method, often used to introduce a bactericidal element into the surface, can lead to the degradation of vital proteins. To analyze the surface structure of nanofibers coated with a layer of plasma COOH polymer, fibronectin/gentamicin, and implanted with Ag ions, a new X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) fitting method is used for the first time, allowing for a quantitative assessment of surface biomolecules. The results demonstrated noticeable changes in the composition of fibronectin- and gentamicin-modified nanofibers upon the introduction of Ag ions. Approximately 60% of the surface chemistry has changed, mainly due to an increase in hydrocarbon content and the introduction of up to 0.3 at.% Ag. Despite the significant degradation of fibronectin molecules, the biological activity of Ag-implanted nanofibers remained high, which is explained by the positive effect of Ag ions inducing the generation of reactive oxygen species. The PCL nanofibers with immobilized gentamicin and implanted silver ions exhibited very significant antipathogen activity to a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Thus, the results of this work not only make a significant contribution to the development of new hybrid fiber materials for wound dressings but also demonstrate the capabilities of a new XPS fitting methodology for quantitative analysis of surface-related proteins and antibiotics.

Cold atmospheric plasma modified polycaprolactone solution prior to electrospinning: A novel approach for improving quercetin-loaded nanofiber drug delivery systems

In this study, we present a novel approach for enhancing the performance of Quercetin-loaded nanofiber drug delivery systems through the modification of Polycaprolactone (PCL) solution using Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) prior to electrospinning. CAP treatment was applied to PCL solutions for varying durations, namely, 0.5, 1, and 3 min. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) collectively demonstrate that CAP application and QU loading induce morphological changes in nanofibers, facilitating the creation of drug delivery systems with modified fiber diameters, devoid of bead formation. CAP treatment duration correlates with varying fiber diameters, with the longest treatment (3 min) producing the largest fibers (1324 ± 387 nm). Concurrently, the incorporation of quercetin (QU) into the PCL nanofibers resulted in reduced fiber diameter. These observations emphasize the pivotal role of CAP modification in tailoring nanofiber size and morphology. Notably, minimal peak shifts indicate no significant molecular structure changes in PCL nanofibers compared to PCL solutions, assuring the absence of unwanted chemical modifications or degradation during electrospinning. Furthermore, specific QU peaks are undetectable in Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, suggesting dispersed or amorphous QU molecules within the nanofibers. Additionally, X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that CAP treatment does not alter the crystalline structure of the PCL nanofiber drug delivery system. Crystalline planes of PCL remain unchanged, affirming stability under CAP treatment conditions. Water contact angles indicate that CAP treatment affects nanofiber hydrophobicity, with shorter CAP treatment times rendering more hydrophilic surfaces. Cumulative QU release percentages vary, with PCL/CAP-0.5-QU exhibiting the highest release at 56 ± 2.2 %, surpassing unmodified PCL/QU. Moreover, cell viability remains comparable or slightly increased when QU is incorporated into CAP-treated PCL nanofibers, suggesting potential mitigation of cytotoxic effects induced by CAP treatment. The combination of QU and CAP treatment enhances cancer cell viability reduction, QU release from nanofibers, and drug loading efficiency in a synergistic manner.

Drug release system based on a composite polycaprolactone nanofiber membrane with dual functionality of shape memory effect and antibacterial ability.

In this study, a multifunctional composite membrane based on polycaprolactone nanofibers having controlled drug release, shape memory effect, and antibacterial ability was successfully prepared by the electrospinning technique. The addition of graphene oxide (GO), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and berberine (BBR) strongly affected the morphology, crystalline degree, melting temperature, and shape memory performance of the composite membrane, thanks to the physical crosslinking network formed by the hydrogen bonding or van der Waals interactions between the components. As a result, the recovery ratio of the composite membrane reached a higher value (76.3% ± 0.7%) than that of the PCL fiber membrane (22.8% ± 0.7%). The additional components significantly improved the wettability of the composite membrane, leading to a high amount of BBR released (42.7 wt%) during 40 hours, as well as effective antibacterial ability. Besides, the BBR release can be feasibly controlled by modulating the deformation ratio of the composite membrane, whereby the higher deformation ratio resulted in a higher BBR release. Therefore, it is suggested that the prepared composite nanofiber membrane is a potential smart material used in biomedical applications, such as wound dressing and drug release systems.

Electrospun nanofibers combined with Fe-doped mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles induce in vitro melanoma cell death

Iron (Fe) doped-mesoporous bioactive glasses are among the most promising candidates in cancer therapy; the present study reports the successful fabrication and characterization of a series of anticancer and pro-regenerative nanocomposites of polycaprolactone and gelatin nanofibers combined with Fe-doped mesoporous bioactive glasses. The anticancer potential and regenerative capacity of the prepared nanocomposite were studied on melanoma (A375 cell line) and normal fibroblast cells (L929 cell line) by using the MTT assay, annexin V/PI apoptosis assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, malondialdehyde assay, as well as adhesion and migration assessments. The characterization of the nanofibers containing 20 % (wt.%) glass particles revealed a suitable tensile strength (5.8 MPa), controlled swelling (355.5 % after 24 hours), and degradability (31.33 % after 28 days). The viability of A375 cells was significantly reduced (up to 77 %) after treatment with the 20 % glass-impregnated nanofibers along with 58 % and 8 % increase in their apoptosis and necrosis, respectively. Interestingly, this nanocomposite showed no significant adverse effects on normal fibroblasts. In conclusion, this study suggests the possibility of the bioactive glass nanoparticles/electrospun nanofiber composites in the treatment of cancers (e.g., melanoma) as well as in providing a suitable microenvironment for tissue repair and regeneration. However, performing in vivo studies is required to provide clear evidence of the anticancer potential of this nanocomposite system.

Poly(ε‑caprolactone) nanofibers functionalized with poultry feather hydrolysate as a novel antioxidant material

Bioactive keratin hydrolysates obtained from microbial treatment of poultry feathers were incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers using the electrospinning method. The nanofiber mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM),...

A novel barrier membrane with long-term ROS scavenging function for complete prevention of postoperative adhesion

Local oxidative stress induced by surgical trauma has been recognized as one of pathogenesis for postsurgical adhesion tissue formation. Herein, tannic acid (TA) based metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) was assembled via chelating with Fe3+, and acted as a novel bio-filler for nanofibrous polycaprolactone (PCL) barrier membrane to endow it with reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging capacity. By chelating with Fe3+, the release of TA could last for more than 20 days, rendering the membrane with continuous ROS scavenging capacity. The modified membrane could effectively inhibit fibroblasts adhesion and proliferation, as well as immune cells recruitment, infiltration, and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Consequently, a complete prevention of peritoneal adhesion formation was obtained in a rat model of sidewall defect-cecum abrasion, far better than commercial Poly lactic acid (PLA) membrane. Systematic biological mechanism investigations revealed that the enhanced anti-adhesion function was mainly ascribed to its robust ROS scavenging capacity, through which the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was blocked, leading to repress of downstream NF-κB-TGFβ1-SMAD signaling pathway, finally inhibiting the bioactivity of fibroblasts and immune cells. This work provided a new strategy for the design of advanced barrier membrane, demonstrated its efficacy and mechanism on preventing postoperative adhesion, holding great promise for future clinical application.

A chitosan-coated PCL/nano-hydroxyapatite aerogel integrated with a nanofiber membrane for providing antibacterial activity and guiding bone regeneration.

A guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane can act as a barrier to prevent the invasion and interference from foreign soft tissues, promoting infiltration and proliferation of osteoblasts in the bone defect area. Herein, a composite scaffold with dual functions of osteogenesis and antibacterial effects was prepared for GBR. A polycaprolactone (PCL)/nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HA) aerogel produced by electrospinning and freeze-drying techniques was fabricated as the loose layer of the scaffold, while a PCL nanofiber membrane was used as the dense layer. Chitosan (CS) solution served as a middle layer to provide mechanical support and antibacterial effects between the two layers. Morphological results showed that the loose layer had a porous structure with n-HA successfully dispersed in the aerogels, while the dense layer possessed a sufficiently dense structure. In vitro antibacterial experiments illustrated that the CS solution in the middle layer stabilized the scaffold structure and endowed the scaffold with good antibacterial properties. The cytocompatibility results indicated that both fibroblasts and osteoblasts exhibited superior cell activity on the dense and loose layers, respectively. In particular, the dense layer made of nanofibers could work as a barrier layer to inhibit the infiltration of fibroblasts into the loose layer. In vitro osteogenesis analysis suggested that the PCL/n-HA aerogel could enhance the bone induction ability of bone mesenchymal stem cells, which was confirmed by the increased expression of the alkaline phosphatase activity. The loose structure facilitated the infiltration and migration of bone mesenchymal stem cells for better osteogenesis. In summary, such a composite scaffold exhibited excellent osteogenic and antibacterial properties as well as the barrier effect, thus holding promising potential for use as GBR materials.

NIR light-triggered photodynamic antibacterial nanofiber membrane based on polycaprolactone and phthalocyanine derivative for biomedical applications.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is gaining recognition as a promising alternative method for the treatment of diverse biomedical applications. Toward this goal, we report herein the fabrication of an electrospun membrane utilizing polycaprolactone (PCL), and a phthalocyanine derivative, namely 1,4,8,11,15,22,25-octabutyloxy-29H,31-phthalocyanine (OBuPc). The designed OBuPc-PCL membrane aims to function as a dressing with the potential to facilitate the management of wound healing. The absorption and fluorescence studies of OBuPc have been examined by the steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence techniques. From direct detection of the weak emission of the singlet oxygen in the NIR region (at 1270 nm), the quantum yield of singlet oxygen was determined to be 0.05. The physiochemical properties of the nanofibers and membranes that were prepared were determined. The photo-activity of all the modified PCL nanofibers against Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli was observed. The PCL/4.8 OBuPc nanofiber exhibited the highest effectiveness, primarily attributed to the enhanced effect of photosensitizer OBuPc as its concentration increased within the fibre. This resulted in S. aureus bacterial inhibition% of 62.5% ± 0.38 and 78.5% ± 0.49 after exposure to near infrared emission NIR at 630 nm for 15 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively. The inhibition of E. coli bacteria was observed to be 51.51% ± 0.49 and 62.44% ± 0.12% after exposure to near infrared (NIR) emission at a wavelength of 630 nm for durations of 15 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively. Additionally, it was observed that the membranes displayed dark bacterial inhibition. These unique features of the examined nanofibers render them a potential photodynamic antibacterial nanofiber membrane for efficient wound healing treatment and practical antibacterial uses.

Evaluation of Random and Aligned Polycaprolactone Nanofibrous Electrospun Scaffold for Human Periodontal Ligament Engineering in Biohybrid Titanium Implants.

Background: Stem cells are introduced to regenerate some living tissue to restore function and longevity. The study aims to isolate in vitro human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) and investigate their proliferation rate on plasma-treated aligned and random polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous scaffolds made via an electrospinning technique to attempt periodontal-like tissue in dental implants. Materials and Methods: hPDLSCs were isolated from extracted human premolars and cultured on plasma-treated or untreated PCL-aligned and random scaffolds to enhance adhesion of periodontal ligament (PDL) cells as well as interaction and proliferation. Cell morphology, adhesion, and proliferation rate were evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and the methyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The wettability of PCL scaffolds was tested using a goniometer. Results: The hydrophilicity of plasma-treated scaffolds was significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) in both aligned and random nanofibers compared to the nontreated nanofibrous scaffold. Cells arranged in different directions on the random nanofiber scaffold, while for aligned scaffold nanofibers, the cells were arranged in a pattern that followed the direction of the aligned electrospun nanofibres. The rate of hPDLSC proliferation on an aligned PCL nanofiber scaffold was significantly higher than on a random PCL nanofibrous scaffold with a continuous, well-arranged monolayer of cells, as shown in FESEM. Conclusion: The aligned PCL nanofiber scaffold is superior to random PCL when used as an artificial scaffold for hPDLSC regeneration in PDL tissue engineering applications.

Synthesis of bone biocompatible implants using human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs) and PCL/laminin scaffold substrate.

Bone tissue engineering is considered a new method in the treatment of bone defects and can be an effective alternative to surgery and bone grafting. The use of adipose tissue mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) on synthetic polymer scaffolds is one of the new approaches in bone tissue engineering. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of laminin coating on biocompatibility and osteogenic differentiation of ADMSCs seeded on polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds. The morphology of the electrospun scaffold was evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined by MTT assay. The adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation potential of the cells was evaluated. The osteogenic differentiation of ADMSCs cultured on the PCL scaffold coated with laminin was assessed by evaluating the level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, intracellular calcium content, and expression of bone-specific genes. The results showed that the ADMSCs cultured on PCL/laminin showed enhanced osteogenic differentiation compared to those cultured on non-coated PCL or control medium (P<0.05). It seems that laminin enhances the physicochemical properties and biocompatibility of PCL nanofiber scaffolds; and by modifying the surface of the scaffold, improves the differentiation of ADMSCs into osteogenic cells.

Tailored release of fluorescence quenched drug from the electrospun nanofiber mat for the treatment of oral submucosal fibrosis (OSMF)

The aim of the presented work involves the preparation and characterization of polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun nanofibers mats (ESNF) loaded with the drug losartan potassium (LP) as a potential localized treatment strategy for treating OSMF.ESNF mats were fabricated using PCL as the biodegradable polymer matrix within which the drug of choice – LP and super disintegrant (SD) – PVP were mixed. The formed ESNF mats were subjected to thorough physico-chemical characterization.The electrospinning technique resulted in the fabrication of controlled diameter PCL nanofibers with no beading and uniform thickness. The presence of LP or PVP was dispersed uniformly within the polymer matrix and did not result in clump formation. The average diameter of blank PCL was 170 nm and that of LP and PVP loaded was 610 nm.The drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were calculated based on theoretical loading and quantification of the drug after destroying the mats and were found to be 89–92 %. The ex-vivo release profile of LP from PCL ESNF was designed to be tailored to release the drug in a few hours to a few days by the addition of super disintegrants in the polymer matrix. The addition of PVP was able to tune the release of LP from the PCL ESNF mat from 6 days to 17 days when compared to 21 days for samples without PVP. This was further studied using DOE® software that used mathematical software techniques to give the optimized formulation of the LP and PVP-loaded PCL ESNF mat. This optimized formulation was then incorporated in a buccal patch to design an effective system for localized drug delivery application. The optimized buccal patch design was later validated through a mucoadhesive strength study using pig mucosa. The mucoadhesive strength of the buccal patch in pig mucosa showed a force of detachment of 153.30 N/m2 and a force of adhesion of 0.27 N.Hence, a novel PCL-ESNF mat containing LP along with PVP was designed with a tailorable release profile as a possible localized therapeutic platform to alter the overproduction of collagen to provide a cure for OSMF.