Electrospun Chitosan-Poly(vinyl alcohol) Nanofibers Functionalized with Natural Bioactive Compounds: Design,...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Advanced wound dressings are crucial for effective wound healing and tissue regeneration.
• Chitosan-poly(vinyl alcohol) (CH/PVA) nanofibers offer a promising scaffold due to their biocompatibility and tunable properties.
• Incorporating bioactive compounds (ACs) can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of wound healing materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize CH/PVA nanofibers functionalized with bioactive compounds (ACs) for wound healing applications.
• To investigate the influence of single and co-loaded ACs on the physicochemical and functional properties of the nanofibers.
• To evaluate the potential of these nanofibrous systems as advanced wound dressings.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning was employed to fabricate CH/PVA nanofibers loaded with L-arginine, allantoin, royal jelly, and curcumin.
• Physicochemical properties of polymer solutions and CH/PVA@ACs nanofibers were characterized.
• Morphological and structural analyses were performed using SEM and FTIR.
• Wettability, swelling behavior, and in vitro release profiles were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Uniform and continuous CH/PVA@ACs nanofibers were successfully produced, with morphology influenced by AC type.
• FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of characteristic functional groups from both the polymer matrix and ACs.
• Nanofibers exhibited high swelling capacity and pH-dependent release behavior.
• Favorable interfacial interactions and wettability indicated compatibility with biological environments.

Conclusions:

• The developed CH/PVA@ACs nanofibers possess suitable morphological, structural, surface, and functional characteristics.
• These nanofibers show significant potential as effective materials for advanced wound dressings.
• The study highlights the successful integration of bioactive compounds into CH/PVA nanofibers for enhanced wound healing and tissue regeneration.