title: Electrospun chitosan-based nanocomposite mats reinforced with chitin nanocrystals for wound dressing.
abstract: The aim of this study was to develop electrospun chitosan/polyethylene oxide-based randomly oriented fiber mats reinforced with chitin nanocrystals (ChNC) for wound dressing. Microscopy studies showed porous mats of smooth and beadless fibers with diameters between 223 and 966 nm. The addition of chitin nanocrystals as well as crosslinking had a positive impact on the mechanical properties of the mats, and the crosslinked nanocomposite mats with a tensile strength of 64.9 MPa and modulus of 10.2 GPa were considered the best candidate for wound dressing application. The high surface area of the mats (35 m(2)g(-1)) was also considered beneficial for wound healing. The water vapor transmission rate of the prepared mats was between 1290 and 1,548 gm(-2)day(-1), and was in the range for injured skin or wounds. The electrospun fiber mats showed compatibility toward adipose derived stem cells, further confirming their potential use as wound dressing materials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Materials Science, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Luleå University of Technology, 971 87 Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naseri
authors.affiliation: Division of Materials Science, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Luleå University of Technology, 971 87 Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Algan
authors.affiliation: CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, Fibers and Textiles Competence Area, P.O. Box 1124, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Valencia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.affiliation: CSIR Materials Science and Manufacturing, Fibers and Textiles Competence Area, P.O. Box 1124, Port Elizabeth 6000, South Africa.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Division of Materials Science, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Luleå University of Technology, 971 87 Luleå, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kristiina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oksman
authors.affiliation: Division of Materials Science, Department of Engineering Sciences and Mathematics, Luleå University of Technology, 971 87 Luleå, Sweden. Electronic address: aji.mathew@ltu.se.
authors.forename: Aji P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mathew
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010539:Permeability; D013718:Tensile Strength; D044366:Transition Temperature
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002686:Chitin
keywords: Chitin nanocrystals; Cytocompatibility; Electrospinning; Mechanical properties; Nanocomposite; Wound dressing