title: Reactive electrospinning and biodegradation of cross-linked methacrylated polycarbonate nanofibers.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to fabricate cross-linked biodegradable polycarbonate nanofibers and to investigate their biodegradability by different enzymes. Poly(2,3-dihydroxycarbonate) was synthesized from naturally occurring l-tartaric acid. The hydroxyl groups on the functional polycarbonate were converted to methacrylate groups to enable the polymer to cross-link under UV irradiation. Smooth cross-linked methacrylated polycarbonate nanofibers (300-1800 nm) were fabricated by a reactive electrospinning process with in situ UV radiation from a mixed solution of linear methacrylated polycarbonate (MPC) and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) (MPC:PEO = 9:1) in methanol/chloroform (50/50). These cross-linked nanofibers have shown excellent solvent resistance and their solubility decreases with increasing degree of cross-linking. The thermal properties of linear and cross-linked polycarbonate nanofibers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The cross-linked polycarbonate nanofibers show no melting point below 200 °C and their decomposition temperature increases with increasing cross-linking degree. Their biodegradation products by five different enzymes were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The biodegradability of the polycarbonate nanofibers decreases with increasing cross-linking degree. These nanofibers were found to support human fibroblast survival and to promote cell attachment. This study demonstrates that cross-linked biodegradable polycarbonate nanofibers with different chemical properties and biodegradability can be fabricated using the novel reactive electrospinning technology to meet the needs of different biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comprehensive Dentistry & Biomaterials, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA.
authors.forename: Ruizhi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yuwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stoute
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lallier
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002254:Carbonates / Q000737:chemistry*; D002465:Cell Movement; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D008689:Methacrylates / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000737:chemistry*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013644:Tartrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002254:Carbonates; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D008689:Methacrylates; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D011091:Polyesters; D013644:Tartrates; C005506:polycarbonate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C029768:tartaric acid