Electrospinning of poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) and gelatin blended thin films: fabrication, characterization, and application in skin regeneration

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Germany), 2013-08, Vol.70 (8), p.2337-2358
• Main Authors: Nagiah, Naveen, Madhavi, Lakshmi, Anitha, R., Srinivasan, Natarajan Tirupattur, Sivagnanam, Uma Tirichurapalli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Aluminum; Applied sciences; Biocompatibility; Biological and medical sciences; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Crosslinking; Electrospinning; Exact sciences and technology; Extracellular matrix; Fibers; Fibers and threads; Fibroblasts; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Fourier transforms; Gelatin; Infrared analysis; Infrared spectroscopy; Medical sciences; Membranes; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Regeneration; Scaffolds; Scanning electron microscopy; Soft and Granular Matter; Spectrum analysis; Stability analysis; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology of polymers; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Tensile strength; Thermogravimetric analysis; Thin films; Tissue engineering
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-013-0956-6

A tissue engineering scaffold should mimic the structure and biological function of native extracellular matrix proteins. Electrospinning is a simple and versatile method to produce ultrathin fibers for tissue engineering. Blended submicron fibers of poly (3-hydroxybutyric acid) and gelatin were electrospun using 1,1,1,3,3,3 hexafluoro-2-propanol as solvent. Cross linking of fibers was achieved using glutaraldehyde, and the resultant fibers were tested and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).The fibers were found to exhibit good tensile strength. Degradation studies were performed and analyzed using SEM and FTIR and proved the stability of fibers for tissue engineering applications. The fibrous scaffold supported the growth and rapid proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes with normal morphology, thus proving its reliability in using it as a potential scaffold for skin regeneration.