Electrospun polysuccinimide scaffolds containing different salts as potential wound dressing material

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Conventional antibacterial agents like silver ions pose environmental risks and potential immune reactions.
• There is a need for novel, biodegradable wound dressing materials with effective antibacterial and tissue-regenerating properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create and characterize two-component biodegradable polymeric scaffolds using polysuccinimide (PSI) and antibacterial salts (zinc acetate, strontium nitrate).
• To evaluate the physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties of these scaffolds for potential biomedical wound dressing applications.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning was used to fabricate nanofibrous scaffolds from PSI and incorporated antibacterial salts.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were employed for structural and compositional analysis.
• Mechanical testing, dissolution studies, antibacterial assays, and cytotoxicity tests were performed to assess scaffold performance.

Main Results:

• Scaffold fabrication resulted in fiber diameters below 500 nm, with salts influencing mechanical properties (load capacity, elongation).
• Strontium nitrate dissolved completely within 8 hours, while zinc acetate showed 50% dissolution.
• Most scaffolds exhibited significant antibacterial activity against relevant bacterial strains and were non-cytotoxic to healthy and tumor cells (except those with zinc acetate).

Conclusions:

• Biodegradable PSI-based scaffolds incorporating zinc acetate or strontium nitrate are viable candidates for advanced wound dressing systems.
• The developed scaffolds demonstrate tunable properties, effective antibacterial action, and good biocompatibility, offering an alternative to traditional treatments.