Nanofibrous webs produced by electrospinning polymers have long been investigated for potential biomedical applications. These fibers are ideal for wound healing as they mimic the primary characteristics of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, the natural polymer chitosan can be co-spun into fiber mats increasing the antimicrobial properties of the materials thereby reducing the risk of infection. Incorporating macromolecular therapeutics like proteins has the potential to enhance and accelerate the wound healing process. It is anticipated that introducing an external source of thrombin via fiber mats will promote a faster clotting time and ultimately promote better tissue regeneration. Thrombin is an ideal clotting factor for biomedical applications because it will induce a cellular response whether the pathway is intrinsic or extrinsic. The engineered protein s-FGF1 stimulates fibroblast activity thereby promoting an environment that is favorable for healing. This cascade from fibroblast activity ultimately produces an increase in native collagen that sustains healing.<br/>The first objective of this research is to optimize the chitosan and PVA formulation to yield a fiber mat with the highest possible amount of chitosan while maintaining the integrity of the fiber mat so that it is uniform in density and free of imperfections. Imperfections in the fibers may lead to an uneven distribution of fiber mat additives (e.g., co-polymers, therapeutics). Utilizing uniform fibers will allow for a better understanding of cellular responses to the engineered fiber mats. The second objective of this research is to integrate optimized fiber mats with proteins such as thrombin and s-FGF1. The protein-loaded fiber scaffolds were analyzed via infrared (IR) spectroscopy and ongoing in vitro studies include release rates and cellular responses. These results will be indicative of the protein-loaded fiber mat’s potential application in treating active bleeds and chronic wounds.

Accelerating tissue regeneration with protein-loaded fiber mats

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