Engineering micro/nano-fibrous scaffolds with silver coating for tailored wound repair applications

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-11-2023

Department

Department of Physics

Abstract

Electrospun scaffolds originating from polymeric amalgams, specifically poly(glycerol sebacate/poly(ε-caprolactone) (PGS/PCL) and poly(methyl methacrylate)–poly(ε-caprolactone) (PMMA/PCL), have emerged as a versatile substrate within the realm of biomedical tissue engineering. Their salience is underscored by their remarkable thermal, optical, and mechanical attributes. In this investigation, we harnessed conventional electro-spinning methodologies to fabricate nano/micro-fibrous scaffolds from a hybrid composite, amalgamating PMMA/PCL and PGS/PCL fibers. A pivotal innovation lay in the precise deposition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on one facet of these scaffolds, endowing them with anti-bacterial functionality. This AgNP coating not only forestalled melting proclivities but also meticulously tuned structural facets, engendering a diminution in pore diameter and augmentation in fiber diameter, thereby engendering an elevation in thermo-mechanical performance. Comparative scrutiny delineated that the PMMA/PCL composite fibrous scaffolds manifested superior mechanical attributes, including augmented modulus (E) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS), accompanied by attenuated tensile strain, obviating the requisite for supplementary post-processing steps. These AgNP-endowed composite fibrous scaffolds engender sanguine prospects for biomedical applications, encompassing surgical meshes, bandages, and band-aids, underpinned by their amplified anti-bacterial characteristics, which are instrumental in the context of wound healing.

Publication Title

Journal of Nanoparticle Research

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