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

Since the introduction of tissue engineering as an encouraging method for the repair and regeneration of injured tissue, there have been many attempts by researchers to construct bio-mimetic scaffolds which mimic the native extracellular matrix, with the aim of promoting cell growth, cell proliferation, and restoration of the tissue's native functionality. Among the different materials and methods of scaffold fabrication, one particularly promising class of materials, hydrogels, has been extensively studied, with the inclusion of nano-scaled materials into hydrogels leading to the creation of an exciting new generation of nanocomposites, known as nanocomposite hydrogels. To closely mimic the native tissue behavior, scientists have recently focused on the functionalization of incorporated nanomaterials via chiral biomolecules, with reported results showing great potential. The current article aims to introduce a perspective of nano-scaled cellulose as a promising nanomaterial which can be multi-functionalized for the fabrication of nanocomposite hydrogels with applications in tissue engineering and drug delivery systems. This article also briefly reviews the recently reported literature on nanocomposite hydrogels incorporated with chiral functionalized nanomaterials. Such knowledge paves the path for the development of tailored hydrogels toward practical applications.

scaffold, nanocomposite hydrogels, biodegradable hydrogels, chiral biomolecules, self-healing

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

This study aims to explore crystallinity variations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a result of electrospinning, filler addition, and heat treatment. Pure PVA and PVA nanocomposite fibers containing only nanohydroxy apatite (nHAp) and together with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were electrospun. Electrospun nanofibers were heat treated at 180°C for 8 h. The morphology of electrospun fibers was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and wide angle X-ray scattering were used to analyze nanofibers crystallinity. Un-treated electrospun nanofibers were shrank and lost their porous structure in water, while heat treatment of nanofibers caused stabilization of fibrous mats in boiling water. It was concluded that the crystallinity of electrospun PVA were considerably reduced compared to PVA powder due to formation of metastable—small and/or defective crystals. Adding small content (1 wt%) of nHAp led to increase in electrospun nanofibers crystallinity. However, incorporation of higher content of nHAp and CNF caused reduction of crystallinity most probably due to possible interactions among components which interrupt the orientation of macromolecules. All analyzing methods proved the crystallinity enhancement of nanofibers upon heat treatment which can be attributed mostly to water evaporation from electrospun fibers structure.

Polyvinyl alcohol, Crystallinity, Electrospinning, Nanofiber, Nanofiller, Heat treatment

The aim of the present study was preparation, optimization, and systematic characterization of electrospun bionanocomposite fibers based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as matrix and nanohydroxy apatite (nHAp) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) as nanoreinforcements. The presence of nHAp and nHAp-CNF affected the morphology of electrospun mats and reduced fiber diameter, particularly at a higher content of nanofillers. The obtained results of FTIR, DSC, and WAXS proved the crystallinity reduction of electrospun nancomposites. Both nHAp and nHAp-CNF addition led to a significant increase of Young modulus with the highest stiffness for nanocomposite fibers at 10 wt% of nHAp and 3 wt% of CNF.

Bionanocomposite, cellulose nanofibers, electrospinning, nanohydroxy apatite