Design and evaluation of electrospun nylon 6/Zn-doped hydroxyapatite scaffold for lysozyme protein absorption

Abstract

This study focused on the design and fabrication of a hybrid electrospun scaffold of nylon 6 (N6)/Zn-doped hydroxyapatite (ZH) nanoparticles for the absorption of lysozyme (LYZ) protein. The effects of electrospinning parameters were investigated by the central composite design method to introduce a roadmap to synthesize a promising hybrid electrospun polymer/ceramic scaffold for protein absorption. A quadratic model based on the coded factors indicated that the concentration of the electrospinning solution was the most effective parameter on the morphology and microstructure of the electrospun scaffold among the other parameters namely distance of needle to the collector, high voltage, and flow rate. The results of the suggested model were evaluated by SEM and TEM microscopies, and it was found that the model was also valid in the actual conditions. The practical hybrid scaffold was electrospun via 16.58 kV high voltage, 0.34 mL.h⁻¹ flow rate, 12.44 cm distance, 17.21 wt.% of N6, and 2.13 wt.% of ZH. Furthermore, the kinetics of LYZ protein adsorption by pristine and hybrid electrospun scaffolds was studied. The results showed that the incorporation of Zn-doped HAp into N6 scaffolds could enhance the ability of protein adsorption 1.5 times more than the pristine N6 scaffold.

Keywords:

• Central composite design
• electrospinning
• diameter of fibers
• protein absorption
• Zn-doped hydroxyapatite

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.