title: Electrospun composite nanofiber membrane of poly(l-lactide) and surface grafted chitin whiskers: Fabrication, mechanical properties and cytocompatibility.
abstract: To improve both the mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA), rod-like chitin whiskers (CHWs) were prepared, and subsequently surface modified with l-lactide to obtain grafted CHWs (g-CHWs). Then, CHWs and g-CHWs were further introduced into PLLA matrix to fabricate CHWs/PLLA and g-CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membranes by electrospinning technique. Morphologies and properties of the CHWs and g-CHWs were characterized. The surface-grafted PLLA chains played an important role in improving interfacial interaction between the whiskers and PLLA matrix. The g-CHWs dispersed more uniformly in matrix than CHWs, and the as-prepared g-CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membrane showed relative smooth and uniform fiber. As a result, the tensile strength and modulus of the g-CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membrane were obviously superior to those of the pure PLLA and CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membranes. Cells culture results indicated that g-CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membrane is more effectively in promoting MC3T3-E1 cells adhesion, spreading and proliferation than pure PLLA and CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membrane.
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: jnuliuhua@163.com.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: 1454916216@qq.com.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Artificial Organs and Materials, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: tluobh@jnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Binghong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: 601494490@qq.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Artificial Organs and Materials, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: 29320571@qq.com.
authors.forename: Mingxian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: xy770726@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoying
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Artificial Organs and Materials, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: tcrz9@jnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Changren
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
keywords: Chitin whisker; Cytocompatibility; Electrospinning; Mechanical properties; Poly(l-lactide); Surface modification