Hongjun Yang, Xin Liu, Yingshan Zhou, Shaojin Gu, Shuoshuo Yang, Qi Dong and Weilin Xu
College of material science and engineering, Wuhan Textile University, China
Biocompatible water-insoluble nanofibers based on maleic anhydride acylated chitosan (MCS)/methacryl poly (vinyl alcohol) (MPVA) were successfully prepared by electrospinning combined with photopolymerization. The composite nanofibrous membranes were subjected to detailed analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). SEM images showed that the morphology and diameter of the nanofibers were mainly affected by the weight ratio of MCS/MPVA. XRD and DSC demonstrated that there was strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the molecules of MCS and MPVA. The crystalline microstructure of the electrospun fibers was not well developed.
The composite nanofibrous membranes could keep the morphology without changed when immersed in water for 48h. The potential use of the photocrosslinkable MCS/MPVA electrospun fiber mats as scaffolding materials for skin regeneration was evaluated in vitro using mouse fibroblasts (L929) as reference cell lines. Indirect cytotoxicity assessment of the nanofibrous membranes indicated that the photocrosslinkable MCS/MPVA electrospun mat was nontoxic to the L929 cell. Cell culture results showed that fibrous mats were good in promoting the cell attachment and proliferation. This novel photocrosslinkable electrospun matrix would be used as potential wound dressing for skin regeneration.
Keywords: Nanofiber, Chitosan, Photopolymerization.