ZIF-8 enriched electrospun ethyl cellulose/polyvinylpyrrolidone scaffolds: The key role of polyvinylpyrrolidone molecular weight

A set of zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) incorporated ethyl cellulose/polyvinylpyrrolidone scaffolds was prepared by electrospinning method. The impact of polyvinylpyrrolidone molecular weight on characteristics of prepared scaffolds was investigated. The ethyl cellulose/polyvinylpyrrolidone scaffold made of polyvinylpyrrolidone 17,000 showed the narrowest nanofibers (mean diameter = 140 nm), the highest percentages of porosity (62%) and swelling (> 130%), the most hydrophilic surface (water contact angle = 74), the fastest rate of degradation, and the best elongation at break (6.3%) among the samples. Furthermore, the higher capability of this scaffold for cell proliferation was revealed through MTT test (125% after 5 days of culture), Live/Dead assay, and FESEM images of cell attachment. This scaffold also represented the highest released amount of ZIF-8-induced Zn2+ ions (20 ppm after 84 h) leading to its greatest antibacterial activity. These findings indicated that the ZIF-8 incorporated ethyl cellulose/polyvinylpyrrolidone scaffold can be used in future skin tissue-engineered constructs.

Automated summary

The study investigated the influence of polyvinylpyrrolidone molecular weight on the characteristics of the prepared scaffolds. The ethyl cellulose/polyvinylpyrrolidone scaffold with PVP 17,000 exhibited the narrowest nanofibers, highest porosity and swelling percentages, most hydrophilic surface, fastest degradation rate, and best elongation at break among the samples, showing higher cell proliferation and antibacterial activity.