title: Effects of pectin structure and crosslinking method on the properties of crosslinked pectin nanofibers.
abstract: We reported crosslinking of electrospun nanofibers of three representative pectins (high-methoxylated, low-methoxylated, low-methoxylated and amidated pectin) and characterization of the crosslinked nanofibers. One mono-crosslinking strategy and two dual-crosslinking strategies were developed. Mono-crosslinking is achieved using calcium ions (Ca2+) to crosslink carboxylate ions in galacturonic acid residues. Dual-crosslinking is achieved using covalent crosslinking reagents glutaraldehyde (GLU) or adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) to further crosslink hydroxyl groups or carboxylate ions after Ca2+crosslinking. Mechanical tests and degradation experiments indicated pectin structure affected mechanical and degradation properties of Ca2+-crosslinked nanofibers remarkably. Subsequent GLU crosslinking improved their mechanical strength moderately but did not inhibit their degradation, while subsequent ADH crosslinking improved their mechanical strength and slowed down their degradation dramatically. Cell studies demonstrated that most crosslinked pectin nanofibers were of no obvious cytotoxicity, and both ADH crosslinking and high degree of methoxylation facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation on pectin nanofiber mats.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology (Northeast Normal University), Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China; School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China. Electronic address: cuiss100@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Sisi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology (Northeast Normal University), Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China. Electronic address: yaob248@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology (Northeast Normal University), Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China. Electronic address: gaomj779@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Meijiao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology (Northeast Normal University), Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China. Electronic address: sunx104@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China. Electronic address: goudx479@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Dongxia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology (Northeast Normal University), Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China. Electronic address: hujl100@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Junli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China. Electronic address: zhouyf383@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yifa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of UV-Emitting Materials and Technology (Northeast Normal University), Ministry of Education, Changchun, Jilin 130024, China. Electronic address: ycliu@nenu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yichun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Cell; Crosslinking; Degradation; Mechanical property; Nanofibers; Pectin