ChAgG-PCL/PVP electrospun fibers as wound dressings

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

Biography:

Dr. Luis Villarreal is a research professor at the Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Technology, Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, member of the National System of Researchers SNII-CONAHCyT Level 2, and a member of the academic body Applied Bioengineering "In Consolidation". To date, Dr. Villarreal has published 51 indexed articles, with a total of 1,134 citations in Scopus. Currently, Research and Graduate Coordinator of the Faculty, General Coordinator of MyDAUD-Multicampus. He has participated in more than 70 national and international conferences. Founder and Editor-in-Chief of the Revista de Ciencias Tecnológicas (RECIT) (only 5 official ones at UABC), organizing president of the main international conferences of the Faculty FCITEC and member of the editorial committee of important publishers such as Bentham, MDPI, Hindawi, Wiley. He is a member of the editorial advisory board of the journal “Current Drug Delivery” and a referee for more than 210 articles participating in publishers such as Elsevier, Wiley, Springer, MDPI and Hindawi among others. He also participates as an evaluator of research projects for funding in Mexico, Italy, Malaysia and Peru. He has contributed to the generation of human resources with 10 undergraduate theses, 10 master's theses and 5 doctoral theses. His research lines in the area of ​​Biomaterials are in Tissue Engineering, Drug Release Systems and Biotechnology, among others. The improvement in the treatment of infants is his primary objective.