title: Fabrication of a biocomposite reinforced with hydrophilic eggshell proteins.
abstract: Soluble eggshell proteins were used as a reinforcing material of electrospun micro/nanofibers for tissue engineering. A biocomposite composed of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) micro/nanofibers and soluble eggshell protein was fabricated with a two-step fabrication method, which is an electrospinning process followed by an air-spraying process. To achieve a stable electrospinning process, we used an auxiliary cylindrical electrode connected with a spinning nozzle. PCL biocomposite was characterized in water contact angle and mechanical properties as well as cell proliferation for its application as a tissue engineering material. It showed an improved hydrophilic characteristic compared with that of a micro/nanofiber web generated from a pure PCL solution using a typical electrospinning process. Moreover, the fabricated biocomposite had good mechanical properties compared to a typical electrospun micro/nanofiber mat. The fabricated biocomposite made human dermal fibroblasts grow better than pure PCL. From the results, the reinforced polymeric micro/nanofiber scaffold can be easily achieved with these modified processes.
authors.affiliation: Bio-Mechatronics Team, Division of Nano-Mechanical System, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, 171 Jang-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-343, Korea. gkim@kimm.re.kr
authors.forename: GeunHyung
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Taijin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Su A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Wan Doo
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Koh
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004527:Egg Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004527:Egg Proteins; D011091:Polyesters; C015753:chorion proteins; C016240:polycaprolactone