Polycaprolactone Fibers Research Articles

A Bottom-Up Approach to Assemble Cell-Laden Biomineralized Nanofiber Mats into 3D Multilayer Periosteum Mimics for Bone Regeneration.

The creation of complex multilayer periosteal graft structures is challenging. This study introduced a novel bottom-up approach to assemble cell-laden nanofiber mats into a three-dimensional (3D) multilayer periosteum mimic, successfully replicating the hierarchical complexity of the natural periosteum. These nanofiber mats, which were fabricated by electrospinning, surface modification, and stimulated body fluid (SBF) immersion, are composed of nanoscale polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers coated with a mineralized collagen layer along the fiber orientation. They closely resembled the natural periosteal matrix, thereby promoting osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) in vitro. The biomimetic periosteum, constructed via layer-by-layer assembly, offered advantages such as a multilayer nanofibrous structure, controlled cell distribution, a reservoir for osteoprogenitors, and enhanced pro-osteogenic potential. The rat calvarial bone defect model confirmed its potent bone repair capacity. This study presents an efficient approach to construct tissue-engineered periosteum mimics, holding promise for serving as periosteal grafts in orthopedic applications.

Polydopamine‐Mediated Gold Nanostructure‐Decorated Electrospun Polycaprolactone Fibers for Photocatalytic Dye Degradation

AbstractMetallic nanoparticle (NP)‐decorated electrospun micro/nanofibers as an ideal photocatalytic system for the degradation of organic dyes may provide unique advantages in terms of 3D morphology with high surface area, well‐controlled porosity, low cost, good interconnectivity, and excellent flexibility. However, novel, flexible, low‐cost, and efficient fabrication methods are still demanded to obtain photocatalytic activity. In this report, for the first time, we propose gold NP (AuNP)‐decorated electrospun poly(Ɛ‐caprolactone) (PCL) membrane fibers through a conformal thin layer of polydopamine (PDA). Herein, PDA could reduce the Au3+ ions and enable the adsorption of AuNPs without using any reducing agent or seed material. The proposed system could degrade methylene blue after a 6‐h of daylight exposure with a rate constant of 4.83 × 10−3 and 4.64 × 10−3 min−1 for citrate‐stabilized AuNPs and reduction of Au ions cases, respectively. Even after fifth cycle of usage, AuNP‐decorated electrospun fibers showed reasonable catalytic activity without any significant change in their morphology and chemical content. For the case of rhodamine 6G, the same systems provided 55.2% and 64.1% of dye degradation within a 5‐h exposure. The proposed system presents unique advantages regarding control, flexibility, low cost, and efficiency in various catalytic applications.

Tunable diameter of electrospun fibers using empirical scaling laws of electrospinning parameters

This study introduces a new semi-empirical power-law model for predicting electrospun fiber diameter (D), addressing key processing parameters. Polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers were produced using a solvent mixture of Trichloromethane (TCM), Dimethyl Formamide (DMF), and ethanol (EtOH). Systematic experiments validated an existing theoretical model and led to the development of a novel model: D ∼ (c1/2η1/3Q1/5X2/3)/(U2/3ω1/4I1/5). This model incorporates seven crucial parameters: viscosity (η), concentration (c), voltage (U), spinning distance (X), flow–rate (Q), current (I) and collector wheel rotation speed (ω). The model was validated through a partial factorial design experiment, proving to be a valuable and reliable tool for predicting fiber diameters and optimizing electrospinning processes. The ability to control fiber diameter is essential for tailoring electrospun fibers for various applications, including biomedicine, filtration, sensors, and lightweight materials.

Electrohydrodynamic Printing of Microscale Fibrous Scaffolds with a Sinusoidal Structure for Enhancing the Contractility of Cardiomyocytes.

Mimicking the curved collagenous fibers in the cardiac extracellular matrix to fabricate elastic scaffolds in vitro is important for cardiac tissue engineering. Here, we developed sinusoidal polycaprolactone (PCL) fibrous scaffolds with commendable flexibility and elasticity to enhance the contractility of primary cardiomyocytes by employing melt-based electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing. Microscale sinusoidal PCL fibers with an average diameter of ∼10 μm were printed to mimic the collagenous fibers in the cardiac ECM. The sinusoidal PCL fibrous scaffolds were EHD-printed in a layer-by-layer manner and exhibited outstanding flexibility and elasticity compared with the straight ones. The sinusoidal PCL scaffolds provided an elastic microenvironment for the attaching and spreading of primary cardiomyocytes, which facilitated their synchronous contractive activities. Primary cardiomyocytes also showed improved gene expression and maturation on the sinusoidal PCL scaffolds under electrical stimulation for 5 days. It is envisioned that the proposed flexible fibrous scaffold with biomimetic architecture may serve as a suitable patch for tissue regeneration and repair of damaged hearts after myocardial infarction.

Combining human liver ECM with topographically featured electrospun scaffolds for engineering hepatic microenvironment

Liver disease cases are rapidly expanding worldwide, and transplantation remains the only effective cure for end-stage disease. There is an increasing demand for developing potential drug treatments, and regenerative therapies using in-vitro culture platforms. Human decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is an appealing alternative to conventional animal tissues as it contains human-specific proteins and can serve as scaffolding materials. Herein we exploit this with human donor tissue from discarded liver which was not suitable for transplant using a synergistic approach to combining biological and topographical cues in electrospun materials as an in-vitro culture platform. To realise this, we developed a methodology for incorporating human liver dECM into electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) fibres with surface nanotopographies (230–580 nm). The hybrid scaffolds were fabricated using varying concentrations of dECM; their morphology, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity and stability were analysed. The scaffolds were validated using HepG2 and primary mouse hepatocytes, with subsequent results indicating that the modified scaffolds-maintained cell growth and influenced cell attachment, proliferation and hepatic-related gene expression. This work demonstrates a novel approach to harvesting the potential from decellularized human tissues in the form of innovative in-vitro culture platforms for liver.

Optimization of the Mineralization Process of Polycaprolactone Fibers with Vaterite Microparticles

Optimization of the Mineralization Process of Polycaprolactone Fibers with Vaterite Microparticles

Dexamethasone acetate loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) nanofibers for rat corneal chemical burn treatment

Topical eye drop approaches to treat ocular inflammation in dry eyes often face limitations such as low efficiency and short duration of drug delivery. Nanofibers serve to overcome the limitation of the short duration of action of topical eye drops used against ocular inflammation in dry eyes. Several attempts to develop suitable nanofibers have been made; however, there is no ideal solution. Here, we developed polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers loaded with dexamethasone acetate (DEX), prepared by electrospinning, as a potential ocular drug delivery platform for corneal injury treatment. Thirty-nine Sprague Dawley rats (7 weeks old males) were divided into four treatment groups after alkaline burns of the cornea; negative control (no treatment group); dexamethasone eyedrops (DEX group); PCL fiber (PCL group); dexamethasone loaded PCL (PCL + DEX group). We evaluated therapeutic efficacy of PCL + DEX by examining the epithelial wound healing effect, the extent of corneal opacity and neovascularization. Additionally, various inflammatory factors, including IL-1β, were investigated through immunochemistry, western blot analysis, and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). PCL + DEX group showed histologically alleviated signs of corneal inflammation compared with DEX group, which showed a decrease in IL-1β and MMP9 in the corneal stroma. The quantitative expression on day 1 after alkaline burn of pro-inflammatory markers, including IL-1β and IL-6, in the PCL + DEX group was significantly lower than that in the DEX group. Notably, PCL + DEX treatment significantly suppressed neovascularization, and enhanced the anti-inflammatory function of DEX during the acute phase of ocular inflammation. Collectively, these findings suggest that PCL + DEX may be a promising approach to effective drug delivery in corneal burn injuries.

Advanced Electrospun Composites Based on Polycaprolactone Fibers Loaded with Micronized Tungsten Powders for Radiation Shielding.

Exposure to high levels of radiation can cause acute, long-term health effects, such as acute radiation syndrome, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. This is an important occupational hazard in different fields, such as the aerospace and healthcare industry, as well as a crucial burden to overcome to boost space applications and exploration. Protective bulky equipment made of heavy metals is not suitable for many advanced purporses, such as mobile devices, wearable shields, and manned spacecrafts. In the latter case, the in-space manufacturing of protective shields is highly desirable and remains an unmet need. Composites made of polymers and high atomic number fillers are potential means for radiation protection due to their low weight, good flexibility, and good processability. In the present work, we developed electrospun composites based on polycaprolactone (polymer matrix) and tungsten powder for application as shielding materials. Electrospinning is a versatile technology that is easily scalable at an industrial level and allows obtaining very lightweight, flexible sheet materials for wearables. By controlling tungsten powder size, we engineered homogeneous, stable and processable suspensions to fabricate radiation composite shielding sheets. The shielding capability was assessed by an in vivo model on prototype composite sheets containing 80 w% of W filler in a polycaprolactone (PCL) fibrous matrix by means of irradiation tests (X-rays) on mice. The obtained results are promising; as expected, the shielding effectivity of the developed composite material increases with the thickness/number of stacked layers. It is worth noting that a thin barrier consisting of 24 layers of the innovative shielding material reduces the extent of apoptosis by 1.5 times compared to the non-shielded mice.

A versatile 5-axis melt electrowriting platform for unprecedented design freedom of 3D fibrous scaffolds

Melt electrowriting (MEW) is an electrohydrodynamic additive manufacturing technology for the fabrication of precise microfiber scaffold architectures but is so far restricted to printing onto simple collector geometries and, therefore, constrained in design freedom. This is due to current limitations in print head designs, kinematic systems, and software to generate motion commands. We address these aspects by upgrading a low-cost 5-axis kinematic system and complete it with a custom-designed print head and a collector fabrication workflow to enable collision-free MEW onto arbitrarily shaped multicurvature 3D geometries. A universal graphical approach enables generation of Gcodes customized to the 5-axis MEW requirements. The print head is validated by producing polycaprolactone fibers with diameters ranging from 5.6 ± 1.7 µm to 50.7 ± 5.5 µm and by writing both linear and non-linear fiber patterns onto collectors featuring concave and convex surfaces. Stable printing conditions are achieved by continuously reorienting the print head and collector surface perpendicular to each other at a constant working distance. Ultimately, we demonstrate the system’s potential in shaping anatomically relevant scaffold geometries by stacking microfibers onto collectors resembling a trileaflet valve and a bifurcating vessel. This multi-axis MEW platform unlocks exciting avenues towards unprecedented design freedom for MEW scaffolds.

Enhanced hemocompatibility and antioxidant efficacy of chitosan-PCL nanofibrous mats with olive oil and honey nika cream for wound healing applications

This study introduces an innovative approach utilizing electrospun scaffold matrices comprising polycaprolactone (PCL) and chitosan (CS), enriched with active ingredients of olive and Honey Nika cream (NC). These matrices were assessed for their potential as advanced wound dressings. The microstructures shown uniformly smooth nanofibers with diameters ranging from 200 to 250 nm across various formulations. XRD results demonstrated that incorporating NC and CS simultaneously, increased the crystallinity of PCL. The thermal analysis illustrated that although the addition of NC and CS declined the thermal stability of PCL fibers, but had no significant influence on the microstructure of the PCL fibers, and scaffolds have suitable chemical stability. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of olive oil, honey, and propolis components in the scaffolds. The developed nanofibers demonstrated advantageous properties such as prolonged NC release due to the incorporation of chitosan, enhanced cell adhesion, optimal swelling and degradation rates, minimal hemolytic activity (less than 0.44 %), and suitable antioxidant capabilities (approximately 50.97 for PNC mat). Further corroborated by in vitro cytocompatibility assessments via MTT assays were shown biocompatibility of the prepared nanofibrous mats. This research highlights the promise of PCL/CS electrospun nanofbrous scaffold for wound healing applications.

Fabrication and Characterization of Polycaprolactone-Baghdadite Nanofibers by Electrospinning Method for Tissue Engineering Applications.

This work investigates the essential constituents, production methods, and properties of polycaprolactone (PCL) and Baghdadite fibrous scaffolds. In this research, electrospinning was used to produce fiber ropes. In this study, the Baghdadite powder was synthesized using the sol-gel method and incorporated into PCL's polymeric matrix in formic acid and acetic acid solvents. The present work examined PCL-Baghdadite fibrous scaffolds at 1%, 3%, and 5 wt% for morphology, fiber diameter size, hydrophilicity, porosity, mechanical properties, degradability, and bioactivity. The introduction of Baghdadite nanopowder into pure PCL scaffolds reduced fiber diameter. The wetting angle decreased when Baghdadite nanopowder was added to fibrous scaffolds. Pure PCL reduced the wetting angle from 93.20° to 70.53°. Fibrous PCL scaffolds with Baghdadite nanopowder have better mechanical characteristics. The tensile strength of pure PCL fibers was determined at 2.08 ± 0.2 MPa, which was enhanced by up to 3 wt% by adding Baghdadite nanopowder. Fiber elasticity increased with tensile strength. Baghdadite at a 5% weight percentage reduced failure strain percentage. Fibers with more Baghdadite nanopowder biodegrade faster. Adding Baghdadite ceramic nanoparticles resulted in increased bioactivity and caused scaffolds to generate hydroxyapatite. The results show that Baghdadite PCL-3 wt% fibers have promising shape, diameter, and mechanical qualities. After 24 h, L-929 fibroblast cell viability was greater in the scaffold with 3% Baghdadite weight compared to the pure PCL. PCL-3 wt% Baghdadite fibers generated hydroxyapatite on the surface and degraded well. Based on the above findings, PCL fibers having 3 wt% of Baghdadite are the best sample for tissue engineering applications that heal flaws.

Biomimetic fiber/hydrogel composite scaffolds based on chitosan hydrogel and surface modified PCL chopped-microfibers

Hydrogel/fiber composites have received wide attention as tissue engineering scaffolds due to the outstanding properties of fibers and hydrogels. In the current research, a hydrogel/fiber composite scaffold was made based on chitosan-modified polycaprolactone (PCL) microfibers and chitosan hydrogel as a binder. The presence of chitosan as a modifier on the surface of fibers and as a binder between fibers can create scaffolds with excellent structural and mechanical properties. To this end, the three-dimensional microfibers were first functionalized with amine groups. Then, the chitosan chains were attached to the fibers by an aldehyde coupling agent and Schiff base reaction. FTIR and Raman spectroscopies corroborated that chitosan was successfully immobilized on PCL fibers. Chitosan-modified fibers were molded with chitosan solutions of various concentrations and the prepared composite scaffolds were stabilized using ionic crosslinking. The obtained composites represented a porous 3D structure with highly interconnected pores. The compressive modulus increased by 19 and 2.7 folds and the tensile modulus was augmented by 28 and 4 folds, in respective dry and swollen states with increasing hydrogel concentration from 0.1 to 1 %. Hydrogel/fiber composites were able to preserve cell viability, and increasing the hydrogel proportion increased adhesion, proliferation and penetration of cells into the scaffold.

Investigation of the recrystallization process of vaterite microparticles containing magnetite nanoparticles grown on polycaprolactone fibers by ultrasonic treatment

Investigation of the recrystallization process of vaterite microparticles containing magnetite nanoparticles grown on polycaprolactone fibers by ultrasonic treatment

Mechanical, Biological and In Vitro Degradation Investigation of Braided Scaffolds for Tendon and Ligament Tissue Engineering Based on Different Polycaprolactone Materials with Chitosan-Graft-PCL Surface Modification.

Injuries to tendons and ligaments are highly prevalent in the musculoskeletal system. Current treatments involve autologous transplants with limited availability and donor site morbidity. Tissue engineering offers a new approach through temporary load-bearing scaffolds. These scaffolds have to fulfill numerous requirements, the majority of which can be met using braiding combined with high-strength polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers. Considering regulatory requirements, several medical-grade PCL materials were assessed regarding their mechanical, degradational and cell biological properties. In the course of the investigation, an excellent fiber tensile strength of up to 850 MPa was achieved. The fibers were braided into multilayer scaffolds and scaled to match the human ACL. These were characterized regarding their morphology and their mechanical and degradational properties. Two strategies were followed to provide biological cues: (a) applying a chitosan-graft-PCL surface modification and (b) using non-circular fiber morphologies as topographical stimuli. Cell vitality assays showed generally positive cytocompatibility and no impairments due to the surface modification or material grade. The best cell vitality was achieved with a scaffold consisting of snowflake-shaped monofilaments combined with a 25° braiding angle. The surface modification equips the scaffold with a release platform for function molecules (as recently demonstrated) so that a holistic approach to addressing the numerous requirements is provided.

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Properties of Native Australian Plant Endophytes against Wound-Infecting Bacteria.

The wound management field faces significant challenges due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the complexity of chronic wound care. Effective wound treatment requires antimicrobial dressings to prevent bacterial infections. However, the rise of AMR necessitates new antimicrobial agents for wound dressings, particularly for addressing bacterial pathogens like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Endophytic fungi, known for producing diverse bioactive compounds, represent a promising source of such new agents. This study tested thirty-two endophytic fungi from thirteen distinct Australian native plants for their antibacterial activity against S. aureus. Ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extracts from fungal culture filtrates exhibited inhibitory effects against both methicillin-sensitive S. aureus ATCC 25923 (MIC = 78.1 µg/mL) and MRSA M180920 (MIC = 78.1 µg/mL). DNA sequence analysis was employed for fungal identification. The most active sample, EL 19 (Chaetomium globosum), was selected for further analysis, revealing that its EtOAc extracts reduced S. aureus ATCC 25923 biofilm formation by 55% and cell viability by 57% to 68% at 12 × MIC. Furthermore, cytotoxicity studies using the brine shrimp lethality test demonstrated low cytotoxicity up to 6 × MIC (25% mortality rate) with an LC50 value of 639.1 µg/mL. Finally, the most active sample was incorporated into polycaprolactone (PCL) fiber mats via electrospinning, with resultant inhibition of S. aureus species. This research underscores the potential of endophytic fungi from Australian plants as sources of substances effective against common wound pathogens. Further exploration of the responsible compounds and their mechanisms could facilitate the development of wound dressings effective against MRSA and innovative biofilm-resistant electrospun fibers, contributing to the global efforts to combat AMR.

Surface-Conjugated Galactose on Electrospun Polycaprolactone Nanofibers: An Innovative Scaffold for Uterine Tissue Engineering.

The uterus, a vital organ in the female reproductive system, nurtures and supports developing embryos until maturity. This study focuses on addressing uterine related problems by creating a nanofibrous scaffold to regenerate uterine myometrial tissue, closely resembling the native extracellular matrix (ECM) for enhanced efficacy. To achieve this, we utilized polycaprolactone (PCL) as a biomaterial and employed an electrospinning technique to generate PCL nanofibers in both random and aligned orientations. Due to the inherent hydrophobic nature of PCL nanofibers, a two-step wet chemistry surface modification technique is used, involving the conjugation of galactose onto them. Galactose, a lectin-binding sugar, was chosen to enhance the scaffold's hydrophilicity, thereby improving cell adhesion and fostering l-selectin-based interactions between the scaffold and uterine cells. These interactions, in turn, activated uterine fibroblasts, leading to ECM remodeling. The optimized electrospinning process successfully generated random and aligned nanofibers. Subsequent surface modification was carried out, and the modified scaffold was subjected to various physicochemical characterization, such as the ninhydrin assay, enzyme-linked lectin assay techniques that revealed successful galactose conjugation, and mechanical characterization to assess any changes in material bulk properties resulting from the modification. The tensile strength of random galactose-modified PCL fibers reached 0.041 ± 0.01 MPa, outperforming random unmodified PCL fibers (0.026 ± 0.01 MPa), aligned unmodified PCL fibers (0.011 ± 0.001 MPa), and aligned modified PCL fibers (0.016 ± 0.002 MPa). Cytocompatibility studies with human uterine fibroblast cells showed enhanced viability and proliferation on the modified scaffolds. Initial pilot studies were attempted in the current study involving subcutaneous implantation in the dorsal area of Wistar rats to assess biocompatibility and tissue response before proceeding to intrauterine implantation indicated that the modification did not induce adverse inflammation in vivo. In conclusion, our study introduces a surface-modified PCL nanofibrous material for myometrial tissue engineering, offering promise in addressing myometrial damage and advancing uterine health and reproductive well-being.

Cellulose Acetate and Polycaprolactone Fibre Coatings on Medical-Grade Metal Substrates for Controlled Drug Release.

This study explores a method that has the potential to be cost effective in inhibiting biofilm formation on metallic prostheses, thereby preventing rejection or the requirement for replacement. A cost-effective metal alloy used in biomedical implants was chosen as the substrate, and ibuprofen (Ibu), a well-known anti-inflammatory drug, was selected for drug release tests for its widespread availability and accessibility. Multilayer coatings consisting of cellulose acetate (CA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and chitosan (CHI), with or without ibuprofen (Ibu) content, were applied onto medical-grade stainless steel (SS-316 type) through electrospinning, electrospray, or blow spinning. The adhesion of the CA, PCL, and layered CA/PCL membranes, with thicknesses ranging from 20 to 100 μm, to SS substrates varied between 0.15 N and 0.22 N without CHI, which increased to 0.21 and 0.74 N, respectively, when a CHI interlayer was introduced by electrospraying between the SS and the coatings. Although drug release in a simulated body fluid (SBF) medium is predominantly governed by diffusion-driven mechanisms in all single- and multilayer coatings, a delayed release was noted in CA coatings containing Ibu when overlaid with a PCL coating produced by blow spinning. This suggests avenues for further investigations into combinations of multilayer coatings, both with and without drug-imbued layers.

Tunable hydrophobicity and biodegradability of acetylated lignin/polyester fibrous mat for water/oil separation

ABSTRACT The development of eco-friendly and biodegradable biopolymer composites has become increasingly important. In this study, acetylated lignin (ACL) was synthesized, and its potential as an effective additive for biodegradable polymers was investigated. ACL was synthesized through a one-step acetylation process in which hydroxyl groups of lignin were substituted with acetyl groups. ACL exhibited enhanced molecular weight and thermal stability, along with improved solubility in organic solvents compared to unmodified kraft lignin (KL). Hydrophobic ACL was uniformly dispersed in a mixture of a polycaprolactone (PCL) polymer and organic solvent, leading to the successful fabrication of a fibrous mat using electrospinning. The ACL/PCL fibrous mat demonstrated enhanced mechanical strength and hydrophobicity, notably indicating a substantially high-water contact angle of 143.3 ± 1.4°. Subsequently, it was utilized as a water/oil separator, showing a separation efficiency exceeding 90% for oil within a short time, effectively addressing water/oil emulsions. Biodegradability results demonstrated enhanced hydrolysis degradation efficiency with the incorporation of ACL into PCL fibers. Consequently, this study proposes a feasible approach to enhance the efficacy of ACL as a biodegradable polymer additive, while presenting promising opportunities for membrane applications targeting water/oil separation.

Sodium alginate-based multifunctional sandwich-like system for treating wound infections

Microbial colonization and development of infections in wounds is a sign of chronicity. The prevailing approach to manage and treat these wounds involves dressings. However, these often fail in effectively addressing infections, as they struggle to both absorb exudates and maintain optimal local moisture. The system here presented was conceptualized with a three-layer design: the outer layer made of a fibrous polycaprolactone (PCL) film, to act as a barrier for preventing microorganisms and impurities from reaching the wound; the intermediate layer formed of a sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel loaded with ampicillin (Amp) for fighting infections; and the inner layer comprised of a fibrous film of PCL and polyethylene glycol (PEG) for facilitating cell recognition and preventing wound adhesion. Thermal evaluations, degradation, wettability and release behavior testing confirmed the system resistance overtime. The sandwich demonstrated the capability for absorbing exudates (≈70 %) and exhibited a controlled release of Amp for up to 24 h. Antimicrobial testing was performed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, as representatives of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria: >99 % elimination of bacteria. Cell cytotoxicity assessments showed high cytocompatibility levels, confirming the safety of the proposed sandwich system. Adhesion assays confirmed the system ease of detaching without mechanical effort (0.37 N). Data established the efficiency of the sandwich-like system, suggesting promising applications in infected wound care.

Equisetum arvense and nano zinc oxide‐infused polycaprolactone scaffolds: A multifaceted approach for antibacterial, antioxidant, and hemocompatible wound dressing

AbstractAn appropriate skin tissue‐engineered scaffold can act promptly to combat microbial infection and preserve the wound throughout all phases of healing. To achieve sufficient healing, scaffolds should also promote cell proliferation and regeneration. Therefore, it has become essential to develop skin tissue engineering scaffolds that mimic the extracellular matrices of the skin, provide a high porosity scaffold structure, and act as an antimicrobial protection during wound healing. In this study, the polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun scaffold was modified with optimal amounts of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) and Equisetum arvense (EA) herbal extract for potential application as antibacterial and wound healing scaffolds. Full characterization was carried out for fabricated scaffolds before in‐vitro assessments. FTIR spectroscopy and SEM images verified the successful substitution of nanofibers with EA and ZnO. These substitutions increased the hydrophilicity compared to the PCL scaffold. According to the results, the PCL/ZnO/EA fabricated scaffold was hemocompatible and non‐cytotoxic, in addition to allowing proper cell attachment. Effective antibacterial efficiency against Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria was also observed in this sample. Finally, the in vitro wound healing assay indicated that the addition of ZnO and EA improves the wound healing capacity of the scaffolds. The results indicate the potential of the developed scaffolds to prevent wound contamination and the complications of chronic infection.Highlights Optimal concentrations of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) and Equisetum arvense (EA) were incorporated into electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers for potential wound dressing applications. The fabricated nanofibrous wound dressings offer a multitude of structural features in biomaterials. PCL fibers enable the controlled release of both ZnO and EA. The fabricated scaffolds exhibit favorable antibacterial, and antioxidant properties while maintaining biocompatibility and hemocompatibility.