Electrospun composite nanofiber membrane of poly(l-lactide) and surface grafted chitin whiskers: Fabrication, mechanical properties and cytocompatibility

Hua Liu; Wenjun Liu; Binghong Luo; Wei Wen; Mingxian Liu; Xiaoying Wang; Changren Zhou

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.03.096

Electrospun composite nanofiber membrane of poly(l-lactide) and surface grafted chitin whiskers: Fabrication, mechanical properties and cytocompatibility

Carbohydr Polym. 2016 Aug 20:147:216-225. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.03.096. Epub 2016 Apr 1.

Authors

Hua Liu¹, Wenjun Liu², Binghong Luo³, Wei Wen⁴, Mingxian Liu⁵, Xiaoying Wang⁶, Changren Zhou⁷

Affiliations

¹ Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
³ Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Artificial Organs and Materials, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁴ Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁵ Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Artificial Organs and Materials, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁶ Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].
⁷ Biomaterial Research Laboratory, Department of Material Science and Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Artificial Organs and Materials, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510632, PR China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 27178927
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.03.096

Abstract

To improve both the mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of poly(l-lactide) (PLLA), rod-like chitin whiskers (CHWs) were prepared, and subsequently surface modified with l-lactide to obtain grafted CHWs (g-CHWs). Then, CHWs and g-CHWs were further introduced into PLLA matrix to fabricate CHWs/PLLA and g-CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membranes by electrospinning technique. Morphologies and properties of the CHWs and g-CHWs were characterized. The surface-grafted PLLA chains played an important role in improving interfacial interaction between the whiskers and PLLA matrix. The g-CHWs dispersed more uniformly in matrix than CHWs, and the as-prepared g-CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membrane showed relative smooth and uniform fiber. As a result, the tensile strength and modulus of the g-CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membrane were obviously superior to those of the pure PLLA and CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membranes. Cells culture results indicated that g-CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membrane is more effectively in promoting MC3T3-E1 cells adhesion, spreading and proliferation than pure PLLA and CHWs/PLLA nanofiber membrane.

Keywords: Chitin whisker; Cytocompatibility; Electrospinning; Mechanical properties; Poly(l-lactide); Surface modification.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't