Electrospun Chitosan/Polyethylene Oxide Nanofibrous Scaffolds with Potential Antibacterial Wound Dressing Applications

Electrospinning is a simple and versatile technique for the fabrication of nonwoven fibrous materials for biomedical applications. In the present study, chitosan (CS) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibrous scaffolds were successfully prepared using three different CS/PEO mass ratios and then evalu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tony T. Yuan, Phillip M. Jenkins, Ann Marie DiGeorge Foushee, Angela R. Jockheck-Clark, Jonathan M. Stahl
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2016-01-01
Series:Journal of Nanomaterials
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/6231040
Description
Summary:Electrospinning is a simple and versatile technique for the fabrication of nonwoven fibrous materials for biomedical applications. In the present study, chitosan (CS) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) nanofibrous scaffolds were successfully prepared using three different CS/PEO mass ratios and then evaluated for their physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Scaffold morphologies were observed by scanning electron microscopy, which showed decreasing fiber diameters with increasing CS content. Higher CS concentrations also correlated with increased tensile strength and decreased elasticity of the scaffold. Degradation studies demonstrated that PEO was solubilized from the scaffold within the first six hours, followed by CS. This profile was unaffected by changes in the CS/PEO ratio or the pH of the media. Only the 2 : 1 CS/PEO scaffold demonstrated superior inhibition of both growth and attachment of Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, all scaffolds exhibited little impact on the proliferation of murine fibroblast monolayers. These data demonstrate that the 2 : 1 CS/PEO scaffold is a promising candidate for wound dressing applications due to its excellent antibacterial characteristics and biocompatibility.
ISSN:1687-4110
1687-4129