A novel CHS/ALG bi-layer composite membrane with sustained antimicrobial efficacy used as wound dressing

<正>A membrane composed of an alginate(ALG) layer and a chitosan(CHS) layer with sustained antimicrobial efficacy was prepared.Ciprofloxacin HC1(CIP) was incorporated into the ALG layer.Morphological feature of the composite membrane was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy(SEM).Water uptake capacity,in vitro drug release,and in vitro antimicrobial activity were evaluated.The composite membrane exhibited perfect binding characteristic between the two layers.The water uptake capacity of all the membranes was above 800%.The CIP could release from the composite membranes for 48 h.The membrane could control the bacterial growth persistently.The results suggested that this CHS/ALG composite membrane incorporated with CIP had the potential for wound dressing application.     

Preparation of chitosan–silica/PCL composite membrane as wound dressing with enhanced cell attachment

In the present study, the asymmetrical polycaprolactone membranes were synthesized using phase inversion method and modified by addition of Pluronic (F‐127) and sodium hydroxide treatment to improve the cell attachment. The chemical structure, physical properties and mechanical behavior of the membranes as well as cell attachment and proliferation on them were characterized and compared to determine the appropriate membrane used in wound dressing fabrication. Then, a composite membrane as wound dressing capable of drug controlled‐release was prepared composed of two merged layers: an asymmetrical poly(ε‐caprolactone) layer coated with a drug‐loaded chitosan – silica matrix. Drug release behavior and biocompatibility of the final system were evaluated. The results showed that the polycaprolactone modified membrane provides appropriate properties to expand fibroblast cell adhesion and proliferation. This in‐vitro study also showed that the controlled‐release composite wound dressing was developed with approximately 70% cumulative release rate, which provided a porous substrate to support skin cells. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of chitosan-alginate/gentamicin wound dressing nanofibrous with high antibacterial performance

Wound dressings based on nanofiber polymer scaffolds with good antimicrobial performance and skin reconstruction ability are promising options to thwart wound infection and accelerate wound healing. This paper reports on the synthesis via electrospinning of chitosan-alginate (CS-Alg) nanofiber dressings with various amounts of gentamicin (Gn; 0–10 wt%) as a drug delivery system. Smooth and continuous nanofibers with no obvious beads were created, with increases in the amount of Gn resulting in reduced fiber diameter. Antimicrobial tests showed the Gn-loaded nanofibers had good antibacterial performance as indicated by the inhibition of bacterial growth. CS-Alg nanofibers loaded with higher Gn concentrations exhibited greater antibacterial performance than those with lower Gn concentrations. In vitro cell culture studies demonstrated that CS-Alg wound dressings with 1–3% Gn improved L929 cell attachment and proliferation more than wound dressings with higher Gn concentrations. In vivo experiments revealed that Cs-Alg nanofibers loaded with 3% Gn significantly enhanced skin regeneration in a Balb/C mice model by stimulating the formation of a thicker dermis, increasing collagen deposition, and increasing the formation of new blood vessels and hair follicles. Collectively, Gn-loaded CS-Alg wound dressings can be considered a good candidate for drug delivery systems and skin regeneration applications.     

Bacterial cellulose-MMTs nanoreinforced composite films: novel wound dressing material with antibacterial properties

This study was conducted to develop nanocomposite films of bacterial cellulose (BC) and montmorillonite (MMT) with potent antibacterial activity and potential therapeutic value in wound healing and tissue regeneration. Different composites were prepared through impregnation of BC sheets with 2 and 4 % suspensions of MMT, Na-MMT, Ca-MMT and Cu-MMT. These modified MMTs were prepared through cation exchange strategy. The antibacterial activities of the composites were then assessed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus through the disc diffusion assay and colony forming unit (CFU) count methods. BC-Cu-MMT composites prepared with 2 and 4 % MMT displayed clear zones of inhibition against E. coli (20 and 22 mm, respectively) and S. aureus (19 and 20.5 mm, respectively). The untainted BC, BC-MMT, BC-Na-MMT and BC-Ca-MMT did not show clear inhibitory zones against the tested organisms. The reduction in CFU observed following treatment with BC-MMTs (BC-MMT, BC-Na-MMT, BC-Ca-MMT and BC-Cu-MMT) prepared using 2 % MMTs suspension was 7.39, 14.8, 19.2 and 77.9 % for E. coli and 6.8, 13.7, 17.4 and 74.1 %, for S. aureus, respectively. When treated with BC-MMT, BC-Na-MMT, BC-Ca-MMT and BC-Cu-MMT prepared with 4 % MMTs suspension, the reduction in CFU increased to 10.58, 18.37, 24.62 and 85.01 % for E. coli and 9.44, 15.73, 20.40 and 79.79 % for S. aureus, respectively. The outcome of this study will facilitate the development of BC sheets as wound dressings and regeneration materials with antibacterial properties for therapeutic applications without any side effects.     

Electrospun cellulose acetate/poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibrous membrane for polymer lithium-ion batteries

The membranes for gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) for lithium-ion batteries were prepared by electrospinning a blend of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVdF) with cellulose acetate (CA). The performances of the prepared membranes and the resulted GPEs were investigated, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), porosity, hydrophilicity, electrolyte uptake, mechanical property, thermal stability, AC impedance measurements, linear sweep voltammetry, and charge–discharge cycle tests. The effect of the ratio of CA to PVdF on the performance of the prepared membranes was considered. It is found that the GPE based on the blended polymer with CA:PVdF =2:8 (in weight) has an outstanding combination property-strength (11.1 MPa), electrolyte uptake (768.2 %), thermal stability (no shrinkage under 80 °C without tension), and ionic conductivity (2.61 × 10^?3 S cm^?1). The Li/GPE/LiCoO₂ battery using this GPE exhibits superior cyclic stability and storage performance at room temperature. Its specific capacity reaches up to 204.15 mAh g^?1, with embedded lithium capacity utilization rate of 74.94 %, which is higher than the other lithium-ion batteries with the same cathode material LiCoO₂ (about 50 %).     

Evaluation of a non-woven fabric coated with a chitosan bi-layer composite for wound dressing

This study presents a novel design of an easily stripped bi-layer composite that consists of an upper layer of a soybean protein non-woven fabric coated with a lower layer, a genipin-crosslinked chitosan film, as a wound dressing material. This study examines the in vitro properties of the genipin-crosslinked chitosan film and the bi-layer composite. Furthermore, in vivo experiments are conducted to study wounds treated with the composite in a rat model. Experimental results show that the degree of crosslinking and the in vitro degradation rate of the genipin-crosslinked chitosan films can be controlled by varying the genipin contents. In addition, the genipin contents should exceed 0.025 wt.-% of the chitosan-based material if complete crosslinking reactions between genipin and chitosan molecules are required. Water contact angle analysis shows that the genipin-crosslinked chitosan film is not highly hydrophilic; therefore, the genipin-crosslinked chitosan layer is not entangled with the soybean protein non-woven fabric, which forms an easily stripped interface layer between them. Furthermore, this new wound dressing material provides adequate moisture, thereby minimizing the risk of wound dehydration, and exhibits good mechanical properties. The in vivo histological assessment results reveal that epithelialization and reconstruction of the wound are achieved by covering the wound with the composite, and the composite is easily stripped from the wound surface without damaging newly regenerated tissue.     

A nanofibrous composite membrane of PLGA-chitosan/PVA prepared by electrospinning

Tissue engineering scaffolds produced by electrospinning feature a structural similarity to the natural extracellular matrix. In this study, poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were simultaneously electrospun from two different syringes and mixed on the rotating drum to prepare the nanofibrous composite membrane. The composite membrane was crosslinked by glutaraldehyde vapor to maintain its mechanical properties and fiber morphology in wet stage. Morphology, shrinkage, absorption in phosphate buffered solution (PBS) and mechanical properties of the electrospun membranes were characterized. Fibroblast viability on electrospun membranes was discussed by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay and cell morphology after 7 days of culture. Results indicated that the PBS absorption of the composite membranes, no matter crosslinked or not, was higher than the electrospun PLGA membrane due to the introduction of hydrophilic components, chitosan and PVA. After crosslinking, the composite membrane had a little shrinkage after incubating in PBS. The crosslinked composite membrane also showed moderate tensile properties. Cell culture suggested that electrospun PLGA-chitosan/PVA membrane tended to promote fibroblast attachment and proliferation. It was assumed that the nanofibrous composite membrane of electrospun PLGA-chitosan/PVA could be potentially used for skin reconstruction.     

In vitro and in vivo evaluations of nanofibrous nanocomposite based on carboxymethyl cellulose/polycaprolactone/cobalt-doped hydroxyapatite as the wound dressing materials

These days, Ophthalmic wound treatment is a major problem; due to its nature, bio/materials are the best choices as wound dressing materials. The main objective of the current survey is to develop and investigate effective wound dressing materials for skin care applications. In these ways, we combined the good biological properties of Cobalt-doped hydroxyapatite particles (CoHAp) with the structural properties of Polycaprolactone (PCL)/ carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) nanofibers. Electrospinning and co-precipitation methods were used to synthesize nanofibers and CoHAp particles, respectively. Nanocomposites were synthesized in the absence and different percentages of CoHAp. The PCL/CMC, PCL/CMC/CoHA 5 %, PCL/CMC/CoHA 10 %, and PCL/CMC/CoHA 15 % formulated nanocomposites have the diameter of 383 ± 50, 391 ± 84, 441 ± 65, and 495 ± 99 nm, respectively. The synthesized nanofibrous wound dressing porosity and water absorption capacity were in the range of 40 to 60 % and 32 to 63 %, respectively. Hemo and cytocompatibility of the nanofibrous wound dressing were analyzed by in vitro evaluation, and the results were satisfactory and the structures were fully biocompatible. The PCL/CMC/CoHA 10 % wound dressing, were selected as the best nanocomposites for wound healing based on our animal studies on the healing outcomes. The results showed that the PCL/CMC nanofibers-Cobalt-doped HAp wound dressing is an effective bioactive nano-biomaterials for the wound healing process.     

Electrospun nanofibrous membranes embedded with aerogel for advanced thermal and transport properties

The primary purpose of cold weather clothing is to shield the wearer from the extremities of the external environment. The thermal properties of nanofibers and their potential applications have tremendous scope and application in this area. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanisms of heat transfer through fibrous insulation where the fiber diameter was less than 1 μm. Electrospinning process was used to produce flexible polyurethane and polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibers embedded with silica aerogel. The thermal and transport behavior of the samples was evaluated, and results were statistically analyzed. Presence of aerogel particles were confirmed through microscopic examination. Thermal behavior was investigated by using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The results showed that the polyvinylidene fluoride nanofibrous membranes embedded with aerogel obtained a good thermal stability with lower weight loss than polyurethane nanofibrous membranes. The glass transition and melting point was not affected by the aerogel content in the layers, validating that polymers are not miscible. The increase in duration of electrospinning led to higher web thickness, which resulted in considerable decrease in air permeability. Considerable improvement of thermal insulation was observed by increasing the number and the weight per unit area of both nanofibrous membranes. The results confirmed increase in thermal insulation by embedding silica aerogel in nanofibrous membranes. With reference to the results, it could be concluded that nanofibers embedded with aerogel are good for thermal insulation in cold weather conditions. Thermal insulation battings incorporating nanofibers could possibly decrease the weight and bulk of current thermal protective clothing.     

Electrospun metal‐organic framework/polyacrylonitrile composite nanofibrous mat as a microsorbent for the extraction of tetracycline residue in human blood plasma

A new composite nanofiber of polyacrylonitrile doped with copper benzene‐1,3,5‐tricarboxylate metal‐organic framework was fabricated by electrospinning and used as a microsorbent in the solid‐phase extraction of trace tetracycline. The chemical structure of the adsorbent was studied by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, and Barrett‐Joyner‐Halenda pore size and volume analysis techniques. The significant parameters of the method including desorption solvent kind and volume, adsorbent mass, pH, and salt percentage were investigated. At the optimized conditions, the linear range was 8–1000 μg/L with a determination coefficient (R²) of 0.9954. The limits of detection and quantification were 2.40 and 8.00 μg/L, respectively. The inter‐ and intraday precisions were 4.7 and 3.4%, respectively. The developed extraction method was followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography and applied for the determination of tetracycline in human blood plasma, and good relative recoveries (97.3‐104.5%) were obtained.     

Electrospun composite of polypyrrole-polyamide as a micro-solid phase extraction sorbent

A micro-solid phase extraction technique was developed using a novel polypyrrole-polyamide nanofiber sheet, fabricated by electrospinning method. The applicability of the new nanofiber sheet was examined as an extracting medium to isolate malathion as a model pesticide from aqueous samples. Solvent desorption was subsequently performed in a microvial, and an aliquot of extractant was injected into gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Various parameters affecting the electrospinning process including monomer concentration, polyamide content, applied voltage, and electrospinning time were examined. After fabricating the most suitable preparation conditions, influential parameters on the extraction and desorption processes were optimized. The developed method proved to be rather convenient and offers sufficient sensitivity and good reproducibility. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) and limit of quantification (S/N = 10) of the method under optimized conditions were 50 and 100 ng L⁻¹, respectively. The relative standard deviation at concentration level of 1 ng mL⁻¹ was 2% (n = 3). The calibration curve of analyte showed linearity in the range of 0.1–1 ng mL⁻¹ (R ² = 0.9975). The developed method was successfully applied to tap and Zayanderood river water samples, while the relative recovery percentages of 98% and 96% were obtained, respectively. The whole procedure showed to be conveniently applicable and quite easy to be manipulated.     

Antimicrobial activity of collagen material with thymol addition for potential application as wound dressing

Recently, special attention has been paid to the development of active wound dressing materials based on biopolymers. Collagen is a natural polymer, which meets the requirements of modern materials for medical applications. However, despite its unique properties, collagen has no antimicrobial activity. In this work thymol was incorporated into collagen films to meet antimicrobial properties of the material. Thymol is a naturally occurring phenolic compound recognized as an antimicrobial agent. Collagen/thymol thin films were obtained through solvent evaporation using collagen solutions containing different amounts of thymol. The structure of the obtained materials was studied using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. The inhibition ability on the growth of several strains of microorganisms was tested. The standard ISO 22196:2007 was used to define the bactericidal properties of the material. The growth of the following bacteria on the collagen/thymol films was studied: Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter aerogenes, Candida albicans. The results showed that the growth of Staphylococcus aureus was the most inhibited compared to the other tested strains. Collagen/thymol material is more efficient against pathogens through direct contact compared to the diffusion of thymol from the material. In general, the thymol addition inhibits biofilm formation on the collagen surface.     

Preparation and characterization of PVA/SA/HA composite hydrogels for wound dressing

A composite hydrogel based on, by introducing, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, and hyaluronic acid was fabricated using CaCl₂ as a cross-linker. The physical properties including morphology, water vapor transmission rate, and hydrophilicity were investigated. All PVA/SA/HA composite hydrogels with different compositions had highly homogeneous and interconnected pores, and the morphologies of the PVA/SA/HA hydrogels ranged from fibrous structure to irregular structure with increasing content of SA. The introduction of sodium alginate enhanced the hydrophilicity and water vapor transmission capacity of the hydrogel; however, the hydrophilicity of the composite hydrogels decreased with the increasing cross-linker content.     

Electrospun poly(lactic acid) nanofibers loaded with silver sulfadiazine/[Mg–Al]‐layered double hydroxide as an antimicrobial wound dressing

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a versatile, bioabsorbable, and biodegradable polymer with excellent biocompatibility and ability to incorporate a great variety of active agents. Silver sulfadiazine (SDZ) is an antibiotic used to control bacterial infection in external wounds. Aiming to combine the properties of PLA and SDZ, hydrotalcite ([Mg–Al]‐LDH) was used as a host matrix to obtain an antimicrobial system efficient in delivering SDZ from electrospun PLA scaffolds intended for wound skin healing. The structural reconstruction method was successfully applied to intercalate silver sulfadiazine in the [Mg–Al]‐LDH, as evidenced by X‐ray diffraction and thermogravimetric analyses. Observations by scanning electron microscopy revealed a good distribution of SDZ‐[Mg–Al]‐LDH within the PLA scaffold. Kinetics studies revealed a slow release of SDZ from the PLA scaffold due to the intercalation in the [Mg–Al]‐LDH. In vitro antimicrobial tests indicated a significant inhibitory effect of SDZ‐[Mg–Al]‐LDH against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This antibacterial activity was sustained in the 2.5‐wt% SDZ‐[Mg–Al]‐LDH–loaded PLA nanofibers, which also displayed excellent biocompatibility towards human cells. The multifunctionality of the PLA/SDZ‐[Mg–Al]‐LDH scaffold reported here is of great significance for various transdermal applications.     

Electrospun ZnO/TiO2 composite nanofibers as a bactericidal agent

Novel ZnO/TiO(2) composite nanofibers were fabricated by an electrospinning method and showed excellent antimicrobial activity against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus under UV irradiation and in the absence of light.     

Perspectives on composite films of chitosan-based natural products (Ginger,Curcumin, and Cinnamon) as biomaterials for wound dressing

Natural materials are gaining popularity in wound healing and food applications, and they have the potential to alleviate the major environmental problems generated via traditional materials. Biomaterials based on Chitosan incorporated with natural products (Ginger, Curcumin, and Cinnamon) have been fabricated by solvent casting method. The antimicrobial characterization of the prepared samples were also investigated using in vitro antimicrobial studies using Gram-positive microorganism [Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis], Gram-negative microorganism [Pseudomonas aeruginosa], and pathogenic [Candida albicans]. XRD patterns confirmed the complexation between chitosan and other natural products and this indicate the change in structural of chitosan. The shifting and disappearing of bands in FTIR-ATR and changing in fingerprints in FTIR spectra indicate the homogeneity and interaction between chitosan and the other. Optical properties such as absorption, absorption coefficient, Urbach tail and band gap calculation confirmed that Ginger, Curcumin and Cinnamon interact with chitosan and induces localized state between valence and conduction band. The mechanical properties also studied and revealed that Chitosan/Ginger has the best mechanical characteristic compared the other samples. In addition, the shifting toward higher wavelength for chitosan/Ginger may be utilized to generate electron–hole pairs, which is important for antimicrobial activities, and this confirmed from antimicrobial analysis that Chitosan/Ginger give high antimicrobial activity toward Gram-positive microorganism and suggest it for wound dressing application.     

Effect of thermal treatment on the characteristics of electrospun PVDF−silica composite nanofibrous membrane

Composite nanofibrous membranes were prepared by the electrospinning and the thermal treatment from poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) blend solutions. The average diameter of nanofibers was reduced with increasing the concentration of TMOS in the solution due to the decrease of the solution viscosity. The EDX spectra confirmed the presence of TMOS on the external surface of the composite nanofibrous membrane. The porosity of membranes was effectively enhanced by the introduction of electrospinning technique. However, the mechanical properties, thermal stability and hydrophobicity were not markedly amplified. Thus the thermal treatment of the composite membranes was carried out, leading to the enormous enhancement of the mechanical properties and hydrophobicity. In addition, XRD results revealed that the crystal structure of PVDF in the composite membranes transformed from α-phase to β-phase due to the formation of silica particles by the thermal treatment.     

Silver nanoparticles embedded temperature-sensitive nanofibrous membrane as a smart free-standing SERS substrate

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded temperature-sensitive nanofibrous membrane as SERS substrate is capable of real-time monitoring the reduction of 4-nitrothiophenol into 4-aminothiophenol catalyzed by its embedded AgNPs, and the detected intermediate indicates that the reaction proceeds via a condensation route.     

Silver nanoparticles embedded temperature-sensitive nanofibrous membrane as a smart free-standing SERS substrate

To develop a smart free-standing surface enhanced Raman scattering(SERS) substrate,silver nanoparticles(AgNPs) embedded temperature-sensitive nanofibrous membrane was fabricated by electrospinning their aqueous solution containing the copolymer poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-Nhydroxymethylacrylamide),followed by heat treatment to form crosslinking structure within its constituent nanofibers.To avoid negative effect of the additive like stabilizer and the reactant like reductant on their SERS efficiency,the AgNPs were in-situ synthesized through reducing Ag~+ions dissolved in the polymer solution by ultraviolet irradiation.The prepared hybrid nanofibrous membrane with high stability in aqueous medium can reach its swelling or deswelling equilibrium state within 15 seconds with the medium temperature changing between 25℃and 50℃alternately.When it was used as a free-standing SERS substrate,10~(-12) mol/L of 4-nitrothiophenol in aqueous solution can be detected at room temperature,and elevating detection temperature can further lower its low detection limit.Since its generated SERS signal has desirable reproducibility,it can be used as SERS substrate for quantitative analysis.Moreover,the hybrid membrane as SERS substrate is capable of real-time monitoring the reduction of 4-nitrothiophenol into 4-aminothiophenol catalyzed by its embedded AgNPs,and the detected intermediate indicates that the reaction proceeds via a condensation route.     

Electrospun polyethylene terephthalate/graphene oxide nanofibrous membrane followed by HPLC for the separation and determination of tamoxifen in human blood plasma

An electrospun polyethylene terephthalate/graphene oxide nanofibrous mat was fabricated and used as an effective and novel membrane for the solid‐phase extraction of tamoxifen in human blood plasma samples before detection by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The membrane was characterized by some identification techniques, such as FTIR spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The effective variables of the extraction procedure including desorption condition (type and volume of the eluent), adsorbent dose, pH of sample solution, salt concentration, and sample loading time were investigated and their optimum values were obtained using one factor at a time methodology. Under the optimized conditions, the results showed wide linear concentration range of 5–2000 ng/mL with a determination coefficient of 0.992. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were 1.3 and 5.0 ng/mL, respectively. The intra‐day and inter‐day precisions were 3.4 and 4.6%, respectively. The method was successfully applied to determination of tamoxifen in the blood plasma samples and satisfactory relative recoveries (92.6–98.3 %) were achieved.