Fabrication and characterization of PCL/PLLA/CS composite fibers as extracellular matrix (ECM) mimetics

Abstract

In this work, we fabricated scaffolds for epithelial cell differentiation based on functional fibers. Chitosan, PCL, and PLLA composite scaffolds were electrospun under two controlled atmospheres. SEM results have shown yarns (<300 nm), strings (∼500 nm), and ribbons (∼2 µm). DSC and TGA indicate the main melting temperature ∼61 °C and a degradation temperature at 277 °C. Aqueous swell and UV sterilization (10 min) processes were tested before performing epithelial cell cultures over selected electrospun substrates. Propagation of the immortalized human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT (24 h) on scaffolds, its non-cytotoxic effect (95% relative to control), and cell differentiation characteristics were observed.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Chitosan
• electrospinning
• keratinocytes
• polycaprolactone
• polylactide acid

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Yanet E. Aguirre Chagala and Prof. Efrain Garrido for their technical support.

Data availability statement

The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also forms part of an ongoing study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the SEP-CONACYT under Grants [numbers 286652 and A1-S-31186].