Effect of l-Arginine treatment on the in vitro stability of electrospun aligned chitosan nanofiber mats. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nitti, Paola; Gallo, Nunzia; Palazzo, Barbara; Sannino, Alessandro; Polini, Alessandro; Verri, Tiziano; Barca, Amilcare; Gervaso, Francesca
• Is Part Of: Polymer testing. Volume 91(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: Chitosan -- Arginine -- Crosslinking -- Nanofiber alignment -- Electrospinning -- in vitro stability; Chitosan Cs -- Poly (ethylene oxide) PEO -- l-arginine L-Arg -- Extra-cellular matrix ECM; Polymers -- Testing -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Tests -- Périodiques; 620.1920287
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2020.106758
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-9418

Abstract

Abstract: Chitosan (Cs) mats obtained by electrospinning are potentially ideal scaffolds for tissue engineering. This technique allows obtaining nanometric fibrous structures with preferred orientation, which in turn enable cells to align themselves and produce extracellular matrix along desired orientations. In this study, we fabricated aligned Cs electrospun nanofiber mats and investigated the role of the amino acid l -Arginine (L-Arg) as stabilizing agent. Morphological, chemical, mechanical and biological characterizations were performed on untreated and L-Arg treated nanofibrous mats showing the role of L-Arg as biomimetic stabilizer. L-Arg acts as chemical stabilizer of nanofibrous mats, providing improved wettability behavior, mechanical properties and stability even after 60 days in aqueous medium in comparison to untreated mats. Moreover, preliminary biological tests demonstrated favorable cell-material interactions implying physiological responses in terms of viability and proliferation. The proposed L-Arg-treated Cs mats can be considered as potential scaffolds for highly oriented tissue patterning. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Chitosan fibrous mats with preferred orientation were obtained by electrospinning. l -Arginine was used as a novel bioactive stabilizing agent of Cs nanofibers. L-Arg improved wettability, mechanical properties and stability in aqueous medium. Cell-based tests showed biomimicking suitability of the nanofibers architectures. L-Arg operated as metabolic activator, being potential enhancer in regenerative events.