Genipin-crosslinked electrospun chitosan nanofibers: Determination of crosslinking conditions and evaluation of cytocompatibility. (5th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Qin; Wang, Xianliu; Lou, Xiangxin; Yuan, Huihua; Tu, Hongbin; Li, Biyun; Zhang, Yanzhong
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 130(2015)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 174
• Publication Date: 2015-10-05
• Subjects: Electrospinning -- Chitosan -- Genipin -- Crosslinking -- Cytocompatibility; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.05.039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Highlights: Chitosan (CTS) was electrospun into nanofibers with merely 3 wt% of PEO-loading. Genipin (GP) was used to crosslink electrospun CTS fibers to improve wet durability. Wet stability, anti-degradation and tensile properties were improved by crosslinking. Proliferation of L929 cells on the CTS nanofibers was up-regulated after crosslinking. Crosslinking with 0.5% GP could yield CTS nanofibers with the best performances. Abstract: To improve durability in wet conditions, electrospun chitosan (CTS) nanofibers were submersed into PBS (pH 7.4) solutions containing varied amounts of genipin (GP 0.1, 0.5, and 1% w/v) for crosslinking treatment. GP-crosslinking allowed the electrospun CTS nanofibers to maintain their fibrous morphology in wet state. Maximum tensile strength, 84.2% of the dry state strength, was attained when crosslinking was performed in GP 0.5% solution. GP-crosslinking also endowed the CTS nanofibers with enhanced resistances to swelling and enzymatic degradation. GP-crosslinked CTS nanofibers were found to significantly promote the adhesion and growth of the L929 fibroblasts, with the most suitable sample was the one crosslinked in the GP 0.5% solution as well. Our results suggest that crosslinking with the 0.5% GP in PBS could yield CTS nanofibers with improved wet stability in nanofiber structure and optimized mechanical and biological performances.