Electrospun composite scaffolds show high ability to be used in regenerative medicine and drug delivery, due to the nanofibrous structure and high surface area to volume ratio. In this study, we used nanofibrous scaffolds fabricated by chitosan (CS), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), carbopol, and polycaprolactone using a dual electrospinning technique while curcumin (Cur) incorporated inside of the CS/PVA fibers. Scaffolds were fully characterized via scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle, tensile measurement, hydration, protein adsorption, and wrinkled tests. Furthermore, viability of the buccal fat pad‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BFP‐MSCs) was also investigated using MTT assay for up to 14 days while cultured on these scaffolds. Cell cycle assay was also performed to more detailed evaluation of the stem cells growth when grown on scaffolds (with and without Cur) compared with the culture plate. Results demonstrated that Cur loaded nanofibrous scaffold had more suitable capability for water absorption and mechanical properties compared with the scaffold without Cur and it could also support the stem cells viability and proliferation. Cur release profile showed a decreasing effect on BFP‐MSCs viability in the initial stage, but it showed a positive effect on stem cell viability in a long‐term manner. In general, the results indicated that this nanofibrous scaffold has great potential as a delivery of the Cur and BFP‐MSCs simultaneously, and so holds the promising potential for use in various regenerative medicine applications.
Wound healing, one of the most complex processes of the body involving the cooperation of several important biomolecules and pathways, is one of the major therapeutic and economic issues in regenerative medicine. The present study aimed to introduce a novel electrospun curcumin (Cur)-incorporated chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/carbopol/polycaprolactone nanofibrous composite for concurrent delivery of the buccal fat pad-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BFP-MSCs) and Cur to a fullthickness wound on the mouse model. Scaffolds were characterized structurally using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), fluorescence microscopy imaging and Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy, and toxicity of the scaffolds was also evaluated after BFP-MSC seeding by SEM imaging and 3-(4,5 dimethyiazol-2-1)-2-5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Then, its influence on the wound-healing process was investigated as a wound dressing for a full-thickness skin defect in mouse model.Results demonstrated that the designed composite scaffolds have the capability for cell seeding and support their growth and proliferation. Macroscopic and histopathological characteristics were evaluated at the end of the 7 and 14 days after surgery, and their results showed that our designed scaffold groups accelerated the woundhealing process compared with the control group. Among those, scaffold/Cur, scaffold/Cur/BFP-MSC and scaffold/BFP-MSC groups demonstrated more wound repair efficacy. These results indicated that the combined grafts can be used to improve the wound-healing process, and therefore, the electrospun nanofibers presented in this study, Cur and BFP-MSC together, were demonstrated to have promising potential for wound-dressing applications. K E Y W O R D S chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/carbopol/polycaprolactone, curcumin, electrospun nanofibers, mesenchymal stem cells, regenerative medicine, wound healing
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