In Situ Transformation of Electrospun Nanofibers into Nanofiber-Reinforced Hydrogels
(2022) In Nanomaterials 12(14).- Abstract
Nanofiber-reinforced hydrogels have recently gained attention in biomedical engineering. Such three-dimensional scaffolds show the mechanical strength and toughness of fibers while benefiting from the cooling and absorbing properties of hydrogels as well as a large pore size, potentially aiding cell migration. While many of such systems are prepared by complicated processes where fibers are produced separately to later be embedded in a hydrogel, we here provide proof of concept for a one-step solution. In more detail, we produced core-shell nanofibers from the natural proteins zein and gelatin by coaxial electrospinning. Upon hydration, the nanofibers were capable of directly transforming into a nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel, where the... (More)
Nanofiber-reinforced hydrogels have recently gained attention in biomedical engineering. Such three-dimensional scaffolds show the mechanical strength and toughness of fibers while benefiting from the cooling and absorbing properties of hydrogels as well as a large pore size, potentially aiding cell migration. While many of such systems are prepared by complicated processes where fibers are produced separately to later be embedded in a hydrogel, we here provide proof of concept for a one-step solution. In more detail, we produced core-shell nanofibers from the natural proteins zein and gelatin by coaxial electrospinning. Upon hydration, the nanofibers were capable of directly transforming into a nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel, where the nanofibrous structure was retained by the zein core, while the gelatin-based shell turned into a hydrogel matrix. Our nanofiber-hydrogel composite showed swelling to ~800% of its original volume and water uptake of up to ~2500% in weight. The physical integrity of the nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel was found to be significantly improved in comparison to a hydrogel system without nanofibers. Additionally, tetracycline hydrochloride was incorporated into the fibers as an antimicrobial agent, and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was confirmed.
(Less)
- author
- Martin, Alma ; Nyman, Jenny Natalie ; Reinholdt, Rikke ; Cai, Jun ; Schaedel, Anna Lena ; van der Plas, Mariena J.A. LU ; Malmsten, Martin LU ; Rades, Thomas and Heinz, Andrea
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- biomaterial, coaxial electrospinning, composite material, mechanical properties, tissue engineering, wound healing
- in
- Nanomaterials
- volume
- 12
- issue
- 14
- article number
- 2437
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:35889661
- scopus:85137338420
- ISSN
- 2079-4991
- DOI
- 10.3390/nano12142437
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 1d113ac6-c872-4e86-ac46-05d931a8c37b
- date added to LUP
- 2022-11-29 15:00:03
- date last changed
- 2024-06-23 23:54:19
@article{1d113ac6-c872-4e86-ac46-05d931a8c37b,
abstract = {{<p>Nanofiber-reinforced hydrogels have recently gained attention in biomedical engineering. Such three-dimensional scaffolds show the mechanical strength and toughness of fibers while benefiting from the cooling and absorbing properties of hydrogels as well as a large pore size, potentially aiding cell migration. While many of such systems are prepared by complicated processes where fibers are produced separately to later be embedded in a hydrogel, we here provide proof of concept for a one-step solution. In more detail, we produced core-shell nanofibers from the natural proteins zein and gelatin by coaxial electrospinning. Upon hydration, the nanofibers were capable of directly transforming into a nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel, where the nanofibrous structure was retained by the zein core, while the gelatin-based shell turned into a hydrogel matrix. Our nanofiber-hydrogel composite showed swelling to ~800% of its original volume and water uptake of up to ~2500% in weight. The physical integrity of the nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel was found to be significantly improved in comparison to a hydrogel system without nanofibers. Additionally, tetracycline hydrochloride was incorporated into the fibers as an antimicrobial agent, and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was confirmed.</p>}},
author = {{Martin, Alma and Nyman, Jenny Natalie and Reinholdt, Rikke and Cai, Jun and Schaedel, Anna Lena and van der Plas, Mariena J.A. and Malmsten, Martin and Rades, Thomas and Heinz, Andrea}},
issn = {{2079-4991}},
keywords = {{biomaterial; coaxial electrospinning; composite material; mechanical properties; tissue engineering; wound healing}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{14}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{Nanomaterials}},
title = {{In Situ Transformation of Electrospun Nanofibers into Nanofiber-Reinforced Hydrogels}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nano12142437}},
doi = {{10.3390/nano12142437}},
volume = {{12}},
year = {{2022}},
}