Novel Bioglass Incorporated PCL/Gelatin Electrospun Scaffold for Accelerated Wound Healing

Abstract

Several scaffolds have been developed to accelerate wound healing. Electrospun scaffolds have an advantage over other scaffolds because of their nanofibrous structure which mimics the extracellular matrix and also supports enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation. Another component, 45S5 bioglass has potential to accelerate skin regeneration by enhancing angiogenesis and collagen deposition in proliferation stage of the wound healing process. Here we have reported fabrication of two dimensional electrospun composite scaffold containing PVA/Gelatin and 45S5 bioglass. Electrospinning was carried out at three different voltages 10kV, 12kV and 15kV. At 12kV and 15kV beaded nanofibers were obtained and at a lower voltage 10kV we got bead free nanofibers. To increase the bioactivity, biocompatibility and mechanical strength of the scaffold, 45S5 bioglass was incorporated in the PVA/Gelatin scaffold. 45S5 bioglass was synthesized using sol-gel synthesis technique and characterized by SEM EDX to confirm and assess the elemental composition of the bioglass. To increase the antimicrobial activity of the scaffold, the bioglass is doped with silver and then incorporated in the scaffold. The morphological study of the scaffold is done using environmental SEM and the physicochemical study is done using FTIR and XRD analysis which confirmed the presence of bioglass in the nanofibrous scaffold. The scaffold is further assessed for bioactivity and biocompatibility using 3T3 fibroblast cell line. This composite scaffold can have a high potential for skin regeneration and accelerated wound healing.