IN SITU TRANSFORMATION OF ELECTROSPUN NANOFIBERS INTO NANOFIBER-REINFORCED HYDROGELS
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Martin, Alma
Nyman, Jenny Natalie
Reinholdt, Rikke
Cai, Jun
Schaedel, Anna-Lena
J. A. van der Plas, Mariena
Malmsten, Martin
Rades, Thomas
Heinz, Andrea
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nanomaterials
Abstract
Nanofiber-reinforced hydrogels have recently gained attention in biomedical engineering.
Such three-dimensional scaffolds show the mechanical strength and toughness of fibers while benefiting
from the cooling and absorbing properties of hydrogels as well as a large pore size, potentially
aiding cell migration. While many of such systems are prepared by complicated processes where
fibers are produced separately to later be embedded in a hydrogel, we here provide proof of concept
for a one-step solution. In more detail, we produced core-shell nanofibers from the natural proteins
zein and gelatin by coaxial electrospinning. Upon hydration, the nanofibers were capable of directly
transforming into a nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel, where the nanofibrous structure was retained by
the zein core, while the gelatin-based shell turned into a hydrogel matrix. Our nanofiber-hydrogel
composite showed swelling to ~800% of its original volume and water uptake of up to ~2500% in
weight. The physical integrity of the nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel was found to be significantly
improved in comparison to a hydrogel system without nanofibers. Additionally, tetracycline hydrochloride
was incorporated into the fibers as an antimicrobial agent, and antimicrobial activity
against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was confirmed.
Description
Keywords
Type of access: Open Access, biomaterial, coaxial electrospinning, composite material, mechanical properties, tissue engineering, wound healing
Citation
Martin, A., Nyman, J. N., Reinholdt, R., Cai, J., Schaedel, A., Van Der Plas, M. J. A., Malmsten, M., Rades, T., & Heinz, A. (2022). In Situ Transformation of Electrospun Nanofibers into Nanofiber-Reinforced Hydrogels. Nanomaterials, 12(14), 2437. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12142437