In recent years, natural biomaterials have been functionalized to mimic the body’s own extracellular matrix for wound healing and tissue scaffolding. Mucilage, from the Opuntia ficus-indica, is responsible for promoting nutrient transport, wall healing, and water replenishment; all of which are needed to maintain and restore integral tissue functions. Therefore, cactus mucilage should be investigated as a credible, natural, plant-based biomaterial for direct applications in the area of wound dressing and tissue regeneration. In this study our goal is to analyze the structure and cell viability of electrospun polymeric biomembranes of two different forms of cactus mucilage (gelling and non-gelling) and copolymers, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). By electrospinning a polymeric solution to fabricate a nanofiber biomembrane, a topography is created that promotes cell adhesion, migration and proliferation as in the body’s own ECM. In addition, the high surface area to volume ratio of the nanofibers and porosity of the nanofiber membrane are advantages for regenerative and healing processes. PEG and PMMA are examined and tested as potential copolymers for electrospinning mucilage biomembranes suitable for cell viability. Investigations explore cactus mucilage and PEG/PMMA polymeric concentrations suitable for biomembrane formation and testing viability effects on NuLi cells. A 50/50 w/w % of PEG and PMMA solution was prepared and used to fabricate valid and sustainable membranes, including non-mucilage polymer membranes (PM), gelling mucilage membranes (GEM), and non-gelling mucilage membranes (NGM). Solutions were electrospun at predetermined parameters (flow rate, voltage, distance, and concentration) to create detachable nanofiber biomembranes for analysis. The trials resulted in the formation of nanofibers, and the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) scans revealed fibers with a diameter range of 1 micron to 150 nanometers. Experimental results show that GEM and NGM membranes had more cell viability around the edges of the membrane, which could be due to the membrane taking away the medium nutrients at the more dense membrane center or the membrane’s weight pushing the cells to the outer edges. Further testing of the GEM and NGM membranes needs to be conducted, but the results suggests that the cactus nanofiber biomembranes could create a stable environment for cells and beneficial conditions for regenerative and healing processes.

Cactus mucilage as a material for nanofibrous membranes for scaffolding and wound healing applications: Cell viability study

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.