Conductive electrospun nanofiber based on silk fibroin/cellulose nanocrystals/reduced graphene oxide as a wound healing material

Abstract

Composite electrospun nanofibers based on silk fibroin (SF), aminated reduced graphene oxide (NH₂rGO), and oxidized-cellulose nanocrystals (AD-CNCs) were designed to promote the healing process by electrical conductivity. In this respect, CNCs were produced from cotton cellulose and oxidized in the presence of sodium periodate, and reduced GO was synthesized and functionalized with amine with p-anthranilic acid via an esterification reaction. Then the crosslink was prepared by the Schiff-base reaction between oxidized CNCs and NH₂rGO. Electrospun nanofibers were prepared from silk fibroin, previously prepared from Bombyx Mori cocoons, AD-CNCs, and different ratios of NH₂rGO. The SF/AD-CNCs/NH₂rGO nanofibrous scaffold presented multiple propitious characteristics for cell proliferation and wound dressing including low cytotoxicity, a hydrophilic surface, thermal stability, and degradability. The physicochemical evaluations showed that with increasing the NH₂rGO content, hydrophilicity and electroconductivity of nanofibers increased. The SF/AD-CNCs/NH₂rGO biodegradable conductive scaffold with 2.5% NH₂rGO content showed favorable nanofibrous structure, supporting and stimulating fibroblast cell proliferation and attachment. The SF/AD-CNCs/NH₂rGO nanofibrous scaffold demonstrates the application potential in wound healing management.

Graphical abstract (Created by Biorender.com)

Keywords:

• Cellulose Nanocrystals
• nanofibers
• silk fibroin

Acknowledgments

Financial support from Payame Noor University is gratefully acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Payame Noor University.