Biaxial electrospun nanofibers based on chitosan-poly (vinyl alcohol) and poly (e-caprolactone) modified with CeAlO3 nanoparticles as potential wound dressing materials

A two-nozzle electrospinning method was employed to fabricate hybrid nanofibers based on chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA), with a ratio of 50:50, and poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). CeAlO3 nanoparticles were synthesized by combustion method and utilized to improve the nanofiber's properties for wound dressing application. Cephalexin (CFX), as an antibiotic model, was also incorporated into the hydrophilic nanofibers. X-ray diffraction showed an increase in crystallinity when CeAlO3-NPs were present in the nanofibers. Water vapor trans-mission rates in the samples were calculated as 22,017 and 2627 g m- 2 day(-1), all within the normal range of ideal wound dressings. Mechanical studies revealed a 43 % and 85 % increase in tensile strength and modulus when CeAlO3-NPs were incorporated. In vitro drug release tests were conducted to simulate drug release, and the neat fibers showed faster release than the modified fibers. The MTT assay and cell morphology experiments showed that CeAlO3-NPs did not affect the nanofiber's biocompatibility and fibroblast cells could better grow, differentiate and cover the prepared hybrid scaffold surface compared to the neat fibers. Taking the results of our study into account, we believe the prepared nanofibrous has the potential for use as a low-cost, effective wound dressing.

Automated summary

A two-nozzle electrospinning method was used to fabricate hybrid nanofibers based on chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol and poly (epsilon-caprolactone), with CeAlO3 nanoparticles incorporated to improve the nanofiber's properties. The addition of CeAlO3 nanoparticles increased the crystallinity, tensile strength, and modulus of the nanofibers without affecting their biocompatibility. The prepared nanofibers have the potential to be a low-cost and effective wound dressing.