Electrospun biocompatibility improvement

As in the case of hydrogels, SELP-47K films have been demonstrated to be extremely biocompatible while allowing cell proliferation [65]. This biocompatible feature, together with mechanical properties, allows SELPs to be explored for several applications, namely contact lenses, synthetic corneas, intraocular lenses, ophthalmic drug delivery matrices, and so on. Although methanol is routinely used to render aqueous insolubility as well as to improve the mechanical properties, autoclaving has been shown to stabilize electrospun nanoflbres and therefore can be an alternative nonchemical method for the stabilization of the film stmcture. 

Composite materials often show a good balance between toughness, strength and improved characteristics compared to individual components. PCL has been one of the most popular polymers used for bone TE scaffolds because of its biocompatibility, slow degradation and ease of electrospinning from a variety of solvents. MSC from rats cultured on electrospun PCL scaffolds, supplemented with osteogenic media... 

Electrospun SF-based fibers were prepared from aqueous regenerated silkworm silk Bombyx mon)/PEO solutions to be used as scaffolds for tissue engineering (Jin et al. 2004). PEO supplied good mechanical properties to the electrospun fibers. An MeOH posttreatment induced an amorphous to silk p-sheet conformational transition. The electrospun silk membrane was washed with water to remove PEO in order to improve the cell adhesion and proliferation. These silk fibrous membranes were nonimmunogenic, biocompatible, and capable of supporting bone marrow stromal cell (BMSC) attachment. In another work, electrospun wool keratin/silk fibroin (WK/SF) blend nanofibers exhibited higher Cu + adsorption capacity than SF nanofibrous membrane (Ki et al. 2007). 

Although PANI exhibits good conducting properties, its poor biocompatibility and dispersibility in aqueous media delayed its use in biomedical applications. However, recent studies have demonstrated its biocompatibility and revived interest in this CP for tissue engineering applications [248]. To enhance biocompatibility and dispersibility, copolymerization and crosslinking with other molecules have been done. Modification has also been done to improve the mechanical properties of aniline for electrospun fibers (Fig. 13.23) [249]. Functionalization of PANI has also been done with biomolecules with tryptophan and NGF. Adhesion and growth of cells on unmodified PANI is still debatable. 

Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is one of the most popular polymers used for electrospun composite fiber production due to its thermostability, excellent biocompatibility, and high mechanical performance [53-56], However, its applications are limited by its high hydrophilieity, through which it dissolves immediately on contact with water. Therefore, PVA nanofibers have usually been modified by either chemical or physical cross-linking to improve their water resistance and mechanical properties [57],... 

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