provision and evaluation of propolis loaded soy protein/ polyamide 6 electrospun nanofibers scaffold : an in vitro study on the cellular viability and proliferation (mouse dermal fibroblast (NIH-3T3) cell line)

Abstract

Dressings are pivotal in aiding wound recovery, yet they are burdened by significant constraints. In addition to possessing antibacterial properties, the effectiveness of a wound dressing must be rigorously assessed for its potential utility across diverse medical applications. Propolis (Pro) is widely acknowledged for its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, positioning it as a promising candidate for wound healing and tissue engineering applications. This study presents a novel composite nanofiber (NF) material comprising polyamide-6 (PA6) and soybean protein as matrix components, incorporating Pro as a payload. We aimed to mimic the extracellular matrix, thus promotion the proliferation and adhesion of mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH3T3) on the scaffold's surface. Materials and methods: Polyamide 6/soy protein nanofibers with different weight concentrations of propolis (10, 5, and 20%) were produced by electrospinning method. The composition of nanofibers was analyzed by scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging and upconversion infrared spectroscopy. Fourier (FTIR) was investigated, porosity percentage, thermal stability, swelling ability and water vapor transmission, hydrophilicity and biodegradability were evaluated. Cell analyzes were performed to investigate cell viability, proliferation and cell adhesion on mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH3T3). Results: According to the obtained results, polyamide 6/soy protein/propolis nanofibers (PA6/Soy/Pro) showed a uniform and no-knot morphology with acceptable mechanical properties. By increasing the concentration of propolis added to the structure of nanofibers with diameters between 102 and 270 nm, the percentage of degradation was 39-53%, as well as an increase in porosity, water vapor transfer rate, and fluid absorption capacity. The release of Pro was measured using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and the release rates were 29.93%, 41.02%, and 60.06% within 24 h for PA6/Soy/Pro5%, PA6/Soy/Pro10%, PA6/Soy/Pro, respectively. Pro20 showed. The important point is that nanofibers containing propolis showed significant inhibitory effects on the growth of E. coli and S. aureus, and the inhibitory effect increased with increasing concentrations of propolis. The MTT assay showed that the produced nanofibers are non-toxic for cells, and the cell adhesion study showed that the developed nanofibers can form a suitable substrate for cell adhesion and proliferation.