Author/Authors :
Cremar, Lee Department of Mechanical Engineering - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas, USA , Gutierrez, Jorge Department of Mechanical Engineering - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas, USA , Martinez, Jennifer Department of Mechanical Engineering - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas, USA , Lozano, Karen Department of Mechanical Engineering - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas, USA , Xu, Fenghua Department of Mechanical Engineering - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg, Texas, USA , Materon, Luis Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA , Gilkerson, Robert Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas, USA
Abstract :
Objective(s): Chitosan based composite fine fibers were successfully produced via a centrifugal spinning
technology. This study evaluates the ability of the composites to function as scaffolds for cell growth while
maintaining an antibacterial activity.
Materials and Methods: Two sets of chitosan fiber composites were prepared, one filled with anti-microbial
silver nanoparticles and another one with cinnamaldeyhde. Chitosan powder was dissolved in trifluoroacetic
acid and dichloromethane followed by addition of the fillers. The fiber output was optimized by configuring
the polymer weight concentration (7, 8, and 9 w/w% chitosan) and applied angular velocity (6000-9000
RPM) within the spinning process.
Results: Scanning electron microscopy revealed fiber diameters ranging from 800-1500 nm. Cinnamaldehyde
and silver nanoparticles helped to improve and control the anti-bacterial activity. Through a verified cell
counting method and disk diffusion method, it was proven that the chitosan based composite fibers possess
an enhanced anti-bacterial/microbial activity against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Both composite
systems showed anti-bacterial activity, inhibition zones fluctuating between 5 to 10 mm were observed
depending on the size of the fiber mat and no bacteria was found within the mats. The developed fiber
scaffolds were found to be noncytotoxic serving as effective three-dimensional substrates for cell adhesion
and viability.
Conclusion: These results provide potential to use these scaffolds in wound healing and tissue regeneration
applications.
Keywords :
Cell adhesion , Anti-microbial , Chitosan , Cinnamaldehyde , Forcespinning , Silver nanoparticles , Wound dressing
