Instytut Podstawowych Problemów Techniki

Zakrzewska A., Kosik-Kozioł A., Zargarian S., Zanoni M., Gualandi C., Lanzi M., Pierini F., Lemon Juice-Infused PVA Nanofibers for the Development of Sustainable Antioxidant and Antibacterial Electrospun Hydrogel Biomaterials, BIOMACROMOLECULES, ISSN: 1525-7797, DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01466, Vol.26, No.1, pp.654-669, 2025

Abstract:
Cross-linking bonds adjacent polymer chains into a three-dimensional network. Cross-linked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) turns into a hydrogel, insoluble structure exhibiting outstanding sorption properties. As an electrospinnable polymer, PVA enables the creation of nanofibrous hydrogels resembling biological tissues, thus ideal for nature-inspired platforms. PVA properties are easily adjustable through additives and an appropriate cross-linking method. Drawing inspiration from environmentally safe approaches, this work developed a new “green” method of low-temperature PVA cross-linking. Nanofibers were electrospun from a precursor solution of PVA dissolved in fresh lemon juice, stabilized by heating at 60 °C for 7 days, and thoroughly characterized. The obtained nanoplatform demonstrated long-term stability and enhanced mechanical properties. Its biocompatibility was confirmed, and its antibacterial and health-promoting effects were attributed to lemon juice-rich in vitamin C, a potent antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. The developed system has future potential for use in the biomedical engineering field as a dressing accelerating wound healing.

Zargarian S., Rinoldi C., Ziai Y., Zakrzewska A., Fiorelli R., Gazińska M., Marinelli M., Majkowska M., Hottowy P., Mindur B., Czajkowski R., Kublik E., Nakielski P., Lanzi M., Kaczmarek L., Pierini F., Chronic Probing of Deep Brain Neuronal Activity Using Nanofibrous Smart Conducting Hydrogel-Based Brain–Machine Interface Probes, Small Science, ISSN: 2688-4046, DOI: 10.1002/smsc.202400463, pp.2400463-1-19, 2025

Abstract:
The mechanical mismatch between microelectrode of brain–machine interfaces (BMIs) and soft brain tissue during electrophysiological investigations leads to inflammation, glial scarring, and compromising performance. Herein, a nanostructured, stimuli-responsive, conductive, and semi-interpenetrating polymer network hydrogel-based coated BMIs probe is introduced. The system interface is composed of a cross-linkable poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based copolymer and regioregular poly[3-(6-methoxyhexyl)thiophene] fabricated via electrospinning and integrated into a neural probe. The coating's nanofibrous architecture offers a rapid swelling response and faster shape recovery compared to bulk hydrogels. Moreover, the smart coating becomes more conductive at physiological temperatures, which improves signal transmission efficiency and enhances its stability during chronic use. Indeed, detecting acute neuronal deep brain signals in a mouse model demonstrates that the developed probe can record high-quality signals and action potentials, favorably modulating impedance and capacitance. Evaluation of in vivo neuronal activity and biocompatibility in chronic configuration shows the successful recording of deep brain signals and a lack of substantial inflammatory response in the long-term. The development of conducting fibrous hydrogel bio-interface demonstrates its potential to overcome the limitations of current neural probes, highlighting its promising properties as a candidate for long-term, high-quality detection of neuronal activities for deep brain applications such as BMIs.