Phosphate salts facilitate the electrospinning of hyaluronic acid fiber mats

Abstract

Electrospinning is a cost effective and facile method to manufacture fiber mats appropriate for biomedical applications. Due to its high molecular weight and charged backbone, hyaluronic acid (HA) fiber mats with consistent fiber morphology have been difficult to electrospin from neutral pH solutions. Here, we present that the electrospinning of HA fibers in aqueous dimethylformamide solutions is facilitated by the addition of three phosphate salts. The salts-glycerol phosphate (GP), sodium phosphate (SP), and tripolyphosphate (TPP)-facilitated electrospinning of the solutions as characterized by conductivity measurements and fiber morphology. From tensile experiments, HA mats electrospun with SP demonstrated improved Young's modulus (12 MPa) over HA mats spun with either GP or TPP (5 and 3 MPa, respectively). This work demonstrates that a new neutral solvent system can be employed to spin HA fibers, which offers the potential for using the fibers for biomedical applications, such as a bone biomimetic.

Electrospinning Nanofibers from Chitosan/Hyaluronic Acid Complex Coacervates

“…There are literature reports of electrospinning hyaluronic acid blended with uncharged polymers, including collagen and gelatin. [69][70][71] It has been successfully demonstrated by attaching an air blowing feature to the conventional electrospinning system to have both electrical force and an air-blowing shear force to fabricate hyaluronic acid nanofibers. 54 Furthermore, electrospinning pure hyaluronic acid has been achieved in dimethylformamide (DMF), 72 while blended hyaluronic acid with formic acid and DMF.…”

“…54 Furthermore, electrospinning pure hyaluronic acid has been achieved in dimethylformamide (DMF), 72 while blended hyaluronic acid with formic acid and DMF. 69 1.4 Polyelectrolyte Complex…”

New Hyaluronic Acid/Polyethylene Oxide-Based Electrospun Nanofibers: Design, Characterization and In Vitro Biological Evaluation

“…It can also stimulate cutaneous adnexa (follicles, apocrine or sebaceous glands). Unfortunately, HA has low electrospinning properties by itself, and various successful attempts have been made using additional compounds to convert it into NFs [ 6 , 17 , 18 ]. In water, the HA chains form an expanded coil and low concentration solutions deliver polymer chain entanglements.…”

“…To provide lower viscosity and successful electrospinning of HA solutions, sodium chloride and PEO was used as viscosity modifiers. This blended HA solution is less viscous, has a pH level above 4, and provides successful NFs [ 18 ].…”

Editorial: The Fiber Society 2012 Fall Meeting and Technical Conference in partnership with Polymer Fibers 2012

“…Brenner et al [4] report on the electrospinning of hyaluronic acid, a material found widely in the connective, epithelial, and neural tissues. The electrospinning process is shown to be assisted by the presence of phosphate salts and could have implications for the design of new tissue engineering materials.…”