Application of electrospun gelatin nanofibers in tissue engineering

Abstract

The aim of this work was to prepare gelatin nanofibers and investigate their medical applications such as nanofibrous scaffolding for skin regeneration, and skin wound dressing in tissue engineering. First, gelatin nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning method. The morphology and diameter of the nanofibers were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Based on the mechanical weakness of gelatin nanofibers, the heat treatment process was used, and the effects were investigated via mechanical tests. The results of the stress strain curve demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the nanofibers enhanced after heat treatment. The heat treated electrospun gelatin nanofibers were applied as scaffold, and human foreskin fibroblast cells (HFFs) were cultured on the scaffold and characterized by SEM. The results showed that the HFFs were completely spread on the surface of the scaffold. In addition, the toxicity of the scaffold was investigated using MTT assay. The scaffold exhibited desired biocompatibility and no toxicity after 24 and 48 hours in culture. In the other ways, the gelatin nanofibers were investigated as a wound dressing in vivo. The certain amount of Myrtus Communis essential oil was loaded in gelatin nanofibers and was used as skin care dressing in vivo. The results of this study indicated no positive effects of Myrtus Communis essential oil gelatin nanofibers (MEG) on the healing of the wound.