title: Mechanical enhancement of nanofibrous scaffolds through polyelectrolyte complexation.
abstract: Optimization of mechanical properties is required in applications of tissue-engineered scaffolds. In this study, a polyelectrolyte complexation approach is proposed to improve the mechanical properties of the nanofibrous scaffolds. Through an electrospun chitosan/gelatin (CG) model system, it is demonstrated that the storage modulus of CG nanofiber-based complex membranes is over 10(3)-fold higher than that of neat chitosan or gelatin membranes. Further, an annealing process was found to promote the conjugation of the oppositely charged polymers and thus the tensile modulus of CG membranes is 1.9-fold elevated. When the molar ratio of aminoglucoside units in chitosan to carboxyl units in gelatin is 1:1, the complex nanofiber-based membranes (CG2) display the highest mechanical strength. In addition, the complex membranes reveal an excellent swelling capacity. By comparing the CG membranes electrospun with cast, it is deduced that the complexation is one of the main contributing factors to the improvement in mechanical properties. FTIR and DSC analyses confirm that more molecular interactions took place in the complexation. SEM observation clearly displays the electrospinnability of the complex. Therefore, polyelectrolyte complexation is an effective strategy for enhancing mechanical properties of nanofibrous scaffolds. These mechanically enhanced chitosan/gelatin nanofibrous membranes have wider applications than wound dressing.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430073, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Weixiu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Zelong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Faquan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005780:Gelatin / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013718:Tensile Strength; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D005780:Gelatin; D048271:Chitosan