Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

This piece of research explores porous nanocomposite polyurethane (PU) foam synthesis, containing nanolignin (NL), coated with natural antimicrobial propolis for wound dressing. PU foam was synthesized using polyethylene glycol, glycerol, NL, and 1, 6-diisocyanato-hexane (NCO/OH ratio: 1.2) and water as blowing agent. The resultant foam was immersed in ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP). PU, NL-PU, and PU-NL/EEP foams were characterized from mechanical, morphological, and chemical perspectives. NL Incorporation into PU increased mechanical strength, while EEP coating showed lower strength than PU-NL/EEP. Morphological investigations confirmed an open-celled structure with a pore diameter of 150–200 μm, a density of nearly 0.2 g/cm3,, and porosity greater than 85%, which led to significantly high water absorption (267% for PU-NL/EEP). The hydrophilic nature of foams, measured by the contact angle, proved to be increased by NL addition and EEP coating. PU and PU-NL did not show important antibacterial features, while EEP coating resulted in a significant antibacterial efficiency. All foams revealed high biocompatibility toward L929 fibroblasts, with the highest cell viability and cell attachment for PU-NL/EEP. In vivo wound healing using Wistar rats’ full-thickness skin wound model confirmed that PU-NL/EEP exhibited an essentially higher wound healing efficacy compared with other foams. Hence, PU-NL/EEP foam could be a promising wound dressing candidate.

polyurethane foam, nanolignin, propolis, wound dressing

The article is focused on the role of nanohydroxy apatite (nHAp) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) as fillers in the electrospun poly (vinyl alcohol) (ES-PVA) nanofibers for bone tissue engineering (TE). Fibrous scaffolds of PVA, PVA/nHAp (10 wt.%), and PVA/nHAp(10 wt.%)/CNF(3 wt.%) were successfully fabricated and characterized. Tensile test on electrospun PVA/nHAp10 and PVA/nHAp10/CNF3 revealed a three-fold and seven-fold increase in modulus compared with pure ES-PVA (45.45 ± 4.77). Although, nanofiller loading slightly reduced the porosity percentage, all scaffolds had porosity higher than 70%. In addition, contact angle test proved the great hydrophilicity of scaffolds. The presence of fillers reduced in vitro biodegradation rate in PBS while accelerates biomineralization in simulated body fluid (SBF). Furthermore, cell viability, cell attachment, and functional activity of osteoblast MG-63 cells were studied on scaffolds showing higher cellular activity for scaffolds with nanofillers. Generally, the obtained results confirm that the 3-componemnt fibrous scaffold of PVA/nHAp/CNF has promising potential in hard TE.

electrospinning, PVA bionanocomposites, scaffolds, bone tissue engineering, cell culture

In the present study, a full bionanocomposite scaffold from poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), nanohydroxy apatite (nHAp) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) was fabricated by electospinning and its potential application for bone tissue engineering was investigated. Morphology of the electrospun scaffolds was seen by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). Both nHAp and CNF enhanced the tensile modulus of the scaffolds; however, both tensile strength as well as slongation at break showed reduced behaviour. Porosity measurement showed that scaffolds had porosity more than 70% which is appropriate for tissue engineering scaffolds. Contact angle test proved high hydrophilicty of electrospun mats while nanofiller incorporation promoted hydrophilicity. Biodegradability was investigated in phosphate buffer saline (PBS). In vitro biomineralization in simulated body fluid (SBF) and MTT cytotoxicity analysis showed that addition of nHAp and CNF increased bioactivity and cell viability of the scaffolds. The obtained results offered a 3-component promising scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

Bionanocomposite, Scaffold, Electrospinning, Poly (vinyl alcohol) and Bone tissue engineering