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Published on: June 17, 2014
Electrospun Poly(vinyl alcohol) Composites Containing pH-Fractionated Kraft Lignin: Structural Characterization,
Chamberttan Souza Desidério1, Hugo Felix Perini2, Beatriz Sodré Matos2
1Laboratory of Immunology and Omic Sciences - Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro - UFTM, Uberaba, MG 38025-350, Brazil.
Fractionating lignin by pH adjustment significantly alters its properties, creating a promising poly(vinyl alcohol)/lignin composite for biomedical uses. The pH 5 fraction shows controlled immune response and cell compatibility.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Lignin derivatives possess valuable biological properties like antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects.
- Understanding how lignin fractionation conditions impact these biological activities is crucial for biomedical applications.
- Current knowledge on the link between lignin fractionation parameters and biological outcomes is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of pH-controlled fractionation of Kraft lignin on its physicochemical and biological properties.
- To develop and characterize electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol)/lignin composites.
- To evaluate the cytocompatibility and immunomodulatory potential of these composites.
Main Methods:
- Kraft lignin fractionation via precipitation at pH 2, 5, and 8.
- Incorporation of lignin fractions into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrices.
- Electrospinning of PVA/lignin composites.
- Characterization using GPC, FTIR, SEM, zeta potential, and particle size analysis.
- Cytocompatibility assays with Vero cells and immunological assays with human PBMCs.
Main Results:
- pH-controlled fractionation significantly modified lignin's molecular characteristics, dispersion, surface charge, and composite morphology.
- The lignin fraction at pH 5 demonstrated optimal particle size (339 nm) and colloidal stability (-38 mV).
- All composites were cytocompatible with Vero cells.
- Composites with pH 5-fractionated lignin selectively increased TNF-α production in PBMCs without altering IL-10 levels, indicating a controlled pro-inflammatory response.
Conclusions:
- pH-guided fractionation is an effective strategy to tune the physicochemical and immunological behavior of electrospun PVA/lignin composites.
- The PVA/lignin system using lignin fractionated at pH 5 is a promising platform for biomedical applications needing immune modulation.
- This study bridges the knowledge gap regarding lignin fractionation conditions and their impact on biological effects.
