Electrospun nanofibers using β-cyclodextrin grafted chitosan macromolecules loaded with indomethacin as an innovative drug delivery system

Nanostructured Biopolymer-Based Constructs for Cartilage Regeneration: Fabrication Techniques and Perspectives

The essential functions of cartilage, such as shock absorption and resilience, are hindered by its limited regenerative capacity. Although current therapies alleviate symptoms, novel strategies for cartilage regeneration are desperately needed. Recent developments in three-dimensional (3D) constructs aim to address this challenge by mimicking the intrinsic characteristics of native cartilage using biocompatible materials, with a significant emphasis on both functionality and stability. Through fabrication methods such as 3D printing and electrospinning, researchers are making progress in cartilage regeneration; nevertheless, it is still very difficult to translate these advances into clinical practice. The review emphasizes the importance of integrating various fabrication techniques to create stable 3D constructs. Meticulous design and material selection are required to achieve seamless cartilage integration and durability. The review outlines the need to address these challenges and focuses on the latest developments in the production of hybrid 3D constructs based on biodegradable and biocompatible polymers. Furthermore, the review acknowledges the limitations of current research and provides perspectives on potential avenues for effectively regenerating cartilage defects in the future.

Degradation profiles of the poly(ε-caprolactone)/silk fibroin electrospinning membranes and their potential applications in tissue engineering

Degradation profiles are critical for the optimal application of electrospun polymer nanofibers in tissue regeneration, wound healing, and drug delivery systems. In this study, natural and synthetic polymers and their composites were subjected to in vivo transplantation and in vitro treatment with lipases, macrophages, and acetic acid to evaluate their degradation patterns. The effects of environmental stimulation, surface wettability, and polymer components on the degradation profiles of the electrospinning poly(ε-caprolactone)/silk fibroin (PCL/SF) nanofibers were first evaluated. In vivo degradation study demonstrated that bulk degradation, characterized by the transition from microfibers to nanofibers, and surface erosion, characterized by fusion between the microfibers or direct erosion from both ends of the microfibers, occurred in the electrospun membranes; however, bulk degradation dominated their overall degradation. Furthermore, the degradation rates of the electrospun PCL/SF membranes varied according to the composition, morphology, and surface wettability of the composite membranes. After the incorporation of silk fibroin (SF), the degradation rate of the SF/PCL composite membranes was faster, accompanied by larger values of weight loss and molecular weight (Mw) loss when compared with that of the pure poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) membrane, indicating a close relationship between degradation rate and hydrophilicity of the electrospinning membranes. The in vitro experimental results demonstrated that enzymes and oxidation partially resulted in the surface erosion of the PCL/SF microfibers. Consequently, bulk degradation and surface erosion coordinated with each other to enhance the hydrophilicity of the electrospinning membranes and accelerate the in vivo degradation.

Electrospinning and electrospun polysaccharide-based nanofiber membranes: A review

The electrospinning technology has set off a tide and given rise to the attention of a widespread range of research territories, benefiting from the enhancement of nanofibers which made a spurt of progress. Nanofibers, continuously produced via electrospinning technology, have greater specific surface area and higher porosity and play a non-substitutable key role in many fields. Combined with the degradability and compatibility of the natural structure characteristics of polysaccharides, electrospun polysaccharide nanofiber membranes gradually infiltrate into the life field to help filter air contamination particles and water pollutants, treat wounds, keep food fresh, monitor electronic equipment, etc., thus improving the life quality. Compared with the evaluation of polysaccharide-based nanofiber membranes in a specific field, this paper comprehensively summarized the existing electrospinning technology and focused on the latest research progress about the application of polysaccharide-based nanofiber in different fields, represented by starch, chitosan, and cellulose. Finally, the benefits and defects of electrospun are discussed in brief, and the prospects for broadening the application of polysaccharide nanofiber membranes are presented for the glorious expectation dedicated to the progress of the eras.

Functional electrospun nanofibers: fabrication, properties, and applications in wound-healing process

Electrostatic spinning as a technique for producing nanoscale fibers has recently attracted increasing attention due to its simplicity, versatility, and loadability. Nanofibers prepared by electrostatic spinning have been widely studied, especially in biomedical applications, because of their high specific surface area, high porosity, easy size control, and easy surface functionalization. Wound healing is a highly complex and dynamic process that is a crucial step in the body's healing process to recover from tissue injury or other forms of damage. Single-component nanofibers are more or less limited in terms of structural properties and do not fully satisfy various needs of the materials. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the literature on the use of electrostatically spun nanofibers to promote wound healing, to overview the infinite possibilities for researchers to tap into their biomedical applications through functional composite modification of nanofibers for advanced and multifunctional materials, and to propose directions and perspectives for future research.

Adsorption removal properties of β-cyclodextrin-modified pectin on cholesterol and sodium cholate

A novel adsorbent β-cyclodextrin-modified pectin was synthesized for removing cholesterol and bile salts from the gastric-intestinal passage. Different amounts of β-cyclodextrin were cross-linked to pectin by aldol condensation reaction via glutaraldehyde. The prepared β-cyclodextrin-modified pectins were successfully confirmed by characterization, showing a higher specific surface area and improved thermal stability with satisfactory cellular compatibility. The introduction of β-cyclodextrins dramatically improved the cholesterol adsorption capacity of pectin due to their hydrophobic cavities. Meanwhile, the modified pectins exhibited superior adsorption for sodium cholate than β-cyclodextrin or pectin itself, which was attributed to hydrophobic interactions. P10:1 displayed the strongest adsorption performance, with a maximum adsorption ability of 44.21 mg/g for cholesterol and 21.38 mg/g for sodium cholate. Furthermore, their adsorption favored the Langmuir isotherm model and pseudosecond-order kinetic model. These results indicate that modified pectin has potential as a nature-based adsorbent for removal of cholesterol and bile salts in the health food industry.

Electrospun PVA Fibers for Drug Delivery: A Review

Innovation in biomedical science is always a field of interest for researchers. Drug delivery, being one of the key areas of biomedical science, has gained considerable significance. The utilization of simple yet effective techniques such as electrospinning has undergone significant development in the field of drug delivery. Various polymers such as PEG (polyethylene glycol), PLGA (Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)), PLA(Polylactic acid), and PCA (poly(methacrylate citric acid)) have been utilized to prepare electrospinning-based drug delivery systems (DDSs). Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) has recently gained attention because of its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, and ideal mechanical properties as these are the key factors in developing DDSs. Moreover, it has shown promising results in developing DDSs individually and when combined with natural and synthetic polymers such as chitosan and polycaprolactone (PCL). Considering the outstanding properties of PVA, the aim of this review paper was therefore to summarize these recent advances by highlighting the potential of electrospun PVA for drug delivery systems.

Electrospun fibers integrating enzyme-functionalized metal-organic frameworks for postoperative tumor recurrence inhibition and simultaneously wound tissue healing

The tumor recurrence and infected wound tissue defect are the major clinical challenges after the surgical treatment of primary chest wall cancer. Herein, to address the above issues, blending electrospinning was applied to incorporate glucose oxidase (GOx) loaded Zn/Cu-based bimetallic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (GOx/BMOFs) into polyurethane (PU) fibers, which were designed for effective cancer therapy with improved wound healing. The release of Cu2+ and GOx could accomplish the conversion from Cu2+ to Cu+ through the glutathione (GSH) depletion and provide additional H2O2 from glucose by GOx catalysis, respectively, which further underwent the Fenton-like reaction to produce toxic hydroxyl radical (OH). The tumor cells (human fibrosarcoma cells) could be effectively killed in vitro and in vivo through the synergistic chemodynamic therapy and starvation therapy. Moreover, the electrospun fiber platform could support the adhesion and proliferation of wound tissue cells, and also show the antibacterial ability owing to the functional agents in the fibers, thereby accelerating the infected wound repair in vivo. This work may offer a reliable and effective fiber biomaterial for localized chest wall tumor therapy and simultaneous tissue regeneration.

Chitosan-Based Polymer Blends for Drug Delivery Systems

Polymers have been widely used for the development of drug delivery systems accommodating the regulated release of therapeutic agents in consistent doses over a long period, cyclic dosing, and the adjustable release of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. Nowadays, polymer blends are increasingly employed in drug development as they generate more promising results when compared to those of homopolymers. This review article describes the recent research efforts focusing on the utilization of chitosan blends with other polymers in an attempt to enhance the properties of chitosan. Furthermore, the various applications of chitosan blends in drug delivery are thoroughly discussed herein. The literature from the past ten years was collected using various search engines such as ScienceDirect, J-Gate, Google Scholar, PubMed, and research data were compiled according to the various novel carrier systems. Nanocarriers made from chitosan and chitosan derivatives have a positive surface charge, which allows for control of the rate, duration, and location of drug release in the body, and can increase the safety and efficacy of the delivery system. Recently developed nanocarriers using chitosan blends have been shown to be cost-effective, more efficacious, and prolonged release carriers that can be incorporated into suitable dosage forms.

A Brief Review on the Electrohydrodynamic Techniques Used to Build Antioxidant Delivery Systems from Natural Sources

Extracts from plants have been one of the main sources of antioxidants, namely polyphenols. The associated drawbacks, such as instability against environmental factors, low bioavailability, and loss of activity, must be considered during microencapsulation for a better application. Electrohydrodynamic processes have been investigated as promising tools to fabricate crucial vectors to minimize these limitations. The developed microstructures present high potential to encapsulate active compounds and for controlling their release. The fabricated electrospun/electrosprayed structures present different benefits when compared with structures developed by other techniques; they present a high surface-area-to-volume ratio as well as porosity, great materials handling, and scalable production-among other advantages-which make them able to be widely applied in different fields, namely in the food industry. This review presents a summary of the electrohydrodynamic processes, main studies, and their application.