Recently, the use of bio-based nanomaterials has become more attractive in biomedical applications due to their cytocompatibility, good mechanical performances, good moisture stability and hydrophilicity as well as ability to form porous structures. In the current study, randomly oriented electrospun nanocomposites of chitosan/polyethylene oxide (PEO) with high concentration of chitin nanocrystals/ cellulose nanocrystals (50 wt%) were developed for potential application as wound dressing material.1,2 Nanocrystals with different surface characteristics were used to improve/tailor the pore structure as well as the mechanical and functional properties of the electrospun fibers. Furthermore, surface characteristics of nanocrystals had a significant impact on the electrospinning solution properties as well as properties of the resulting fibers. The structural morphology of the mats showed that diameter of the electrospun fibers were in the range of 223-1240 nm and decreased with incorporation of nanocrystals. The addition of nanocrystals as well as crosslinking had a positive impact on the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite mats. Chitin reinforced mats had the highest mechanical properties due to better compatibility with the matrix and increased further (tensile strength of 64.9 MPa and the modulus of 10.2 GPa) after crosslinking.1 The water vapor transmission rate and O2/CO2 permeability of the electrospun mats as well as cytocompatibility towards adipose derived stem cells were considered favorable for wound dressing.1,2 References: 1. Naseri, N., Algan, C., Jacobs, V., John, M., Oksman, K., & Mathew, A. P. (2014). Electrospun chitosan-based nanocomposite mats reinforced with chitin nanocrystals for wound dressing. Carbohydrate polymers, 109, 7-15. 2. Naseri, N., Mathew, A. P., Girandon, L., Fröhlich, M., & Oksman, K. (2015). Porous electrospun nanocomposite mats based on chitosan– cellulose nanocrystals for wound dressing: Effect of surface characteristics of nanocrystals. Cellulose, 22(1), 521-534.

Porous electrospun nanocomposite mats based on cellulose/chitin nanocystals for wound dressing

251st National Meeting (2016)

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