Title: ChAgG-PCL/PVP electrospun fibers as wound dressings
Abstract:
Wound dressings have been used to clean, cover, and protect the wound from the external environment. However, choosing an adequate dressing will reduce the time of healing, provide cost-effective care, and improve the patient’s quality of life. Electrospun fibers have gained attention in this area due to their variety of properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, adequate mechanical properties, and moisture. An additional property such as bioactivity against microorganisms is always desired, for that reason, the objective of this work is to propose a wound dressing system made of functionalized electrospun nanofibers of poly (caprolactone)/poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PCL/PVP) with a nanocomposite of Chitosan/Silver Nanocrystals/Graphene Oxide (ChAgG). The ChAgG nanostructured composite material is composed of Chitosan from corn (Ch), silver nanocrystals from garlic (Allium sativum), and Graphene Oxide (G), therefore, these fibers were functionalized with ChAgG nanocomposite solution using blending electrospinning in different proportions (1, 5, and 10%). By infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and through the deconclusion of the bands by X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and images by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the nanocomposites were characterized for the presence of the different elements that compose them. On other hand, resulting fibrous dressings were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, to observe the morphology and obtain fibers diameters data. Thermal analyses (TGA and DSC) and FTIR in order to evidence the incorporation of ChAgG in/on the fiber’s polymeric matrix. Mechanical properties indicated that fibers with 5% of the ChAgG formulation were the most interesting formulation and the best candidate for wound dressing applications. For future work, citotoxicity, antimicrobial activity and animal testing demonstration of the capacity of the chosen system can be done. These results will lead to an optimized wound dressing with antimicrobial properties that can compete on the actual market.
Audience Take Away Notes :
- The basis of the electrospinning technique
- The potential use of electrospun nanofibers
- Method for surface modification of these fibrous smart in order to promote bioactive properties such as antimicrobial
- Desired mechanical properties and biocompatibility
