Carbon quantum dots-embedded electrospun antimicrobial and fluorescent scaffold for reepithelialization in albino...

A prosthetic scaffold development using fluorescent nanofiber is reported for an enhanced reepithelialization in wistar albino rats. In this study, a novel approach was followed to construct the biocompatible fluorescent nanofiber that will be helpful to monitor the tissue regeneration process. Here, a multifunctional carbon quantum dots (CQDs)-embedded electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber was fabricated and characterized using standard laboratory techniques. The biodegradation ability was assessed by simulated body fluid thereby analyzing porosity and water absorption capacity of the material. The fluorescent scaffold was tested for cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity using bacterial and fibroblast cells and fluorescent stability was analyzed by bioimaging of animal and bacterial cells. Tissue regeneration capability of the developed scaffold was evaluated using wistar albino rats. Unlike biomicking scaffolds, the CQDs-embedded PAN-based substrate has given dual support by enhancing reepithelialization without growth factors and acted as an antimicrobial agent to provide contamination free tissue regeneration. Scaffolds were examined by using histostaining techniques and scanning electron microscopy to observe the reepithelialization in the regenerated tissues. The novel approach for developing infection free soft tissue regeneration was found to be phenomenal in scaffold development.