Photo-polymerisable electrospun fibres of N-methacrylate glycol chitosan for biomedical applications

The availability of nanofibrous substrates with engineered properties, such as controlled porosity, mechanical conformability, biodegradation profile and drug release, is of strategic importance in the biomedical sector. Here, we demonstrate that N-methacrylate glycol chitosan, a photo-polymerisable, biocompatible and water-soluble derivative of chitosan, can be easily processed to create non-woven mats of nanofibres with controlled physicochemical characteristics. The produced fibrous mats are characterised by thermal stability, Young's modulus of 140 MPa and ultimate strength of 4 MPa. The degree of cross-linking of the realised fibres regulates their durability and degradation profile under conditions of high humidity, but also allows controlling the delivery over time of active agents encapsulated inside the fibres. We demonstrate that the N-methacrylate glycol chitosan nanofibres are able to release an antimicrobial drug within 24 hours. Moreover, cells proliferation of 85% indicates that non-cytotoxic substances were released from the electrospun mats

Investigation of the electro-spinnability of alginate solutions containing gold precursor HAuCl4

Alginate nanofibers with an average diameter of 75 nm have been prepared by the electrospinning process. In addition, the spinnability of the solutions in the presence of the gold precursor HAuCl4 was investigated. At low concentrations of HAuCl4 well-formed nanofibers were produced, whereas as its concentration increases the nanofibrous mats present an increased number of bead-like defects. Herein, the in situ preparation of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) is discussed since sodium alginate (SA) acts as the reducing agent and a mechanism is proposed in order to explain the bead-effect as well as the surface morphology of the alginate fibers decorated with Au NPs

Zwitterionic nanofibers of super-glue for transparent and biocompatible multi-purpose coatings

Here we show that macrozwitterions of poly(ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate), commonly called Super Glue, can easily assemble into long and well defined fibers by electrospinning. The resulting fibrous networks are thermally treated on glass in order to create transparent coatings whose superficial morphology recalls the organization of the initial electrospun mats. These textured coatings are characterized by low liquid adhesion and anti-staining performance. Furthermore, the low friction coefficient and excellent scratch resistance make them attractive as solid lubricants. The inherent texture of the coatings positively affects their biocompatibility. In fact, they are able to promote the proliferation and differentiation of myoblast stem cells. Optically-transparent and biocompatible coatings that simultaneously possess characteristics of low water contact angle hysteresis, low friction and mechanical robustness can find application in a wide range of technological sectors, from the construction and automotive industries to electronic and biomedical devices