A novel dermal substitute based on biofunctionalized electrospun PCL nanofibrous matrix

In this study, nanofibrous matrices of polycaprolactone (PCL) and PCL/collagen with immobilized epidermal growth factor (EGF) were successfully fabricated by electrospinning for the purpose of damaged skin regeneration. Nanofiber diameters were found to be 284 ± 48 nm for PCL and 330 ± 104 nm for PCL/collagen matrices. The porosities were calculated as 85% for PCL and 90% for PCL/collagen matrices. The covalent immobilization of EGF onto the nanofibrous matrices was verified by the increase of surface atomic nitrogen ratio from 1.0 to 2.4% for PCL and from 3.7 to 4.7% for PCL/collagen. Moreover, EGF immobilization efficiencies of PCL and PCL/collagen matrices were determined as 98.5 and 99.2%, respectively. Human dermal keratinocytes (HS2) were cultivated on both neat and EGF immobilized PCL and PCL/collagen matrices to investigate the effects of matrix chemical composition and presence of EGF on cell proliferation and differentiation. EGF immobilized PCL/collagen matrices exerted early cell spreading and rapid proliferation. Statistically high expression levels of loricrin in HS2 cells cultivated on EGF immobilized PCL/collagen matrices were (p < 0.001) regarding superior differentiation ability of these cells compared to HS2 cells cultured on neat PCL and PCL/collagen matrices. In conclusion, this novel EGF immobilized PCL/collagen nanofibrous matrix could potentially be considered as an alternative dermal substitutes and wound healing material for skin tissue engineering applications.