Surface Modification of Nanofibers by Physical Adsorption of Fiber-Homologous Amphiphilic Copolymers and Nanofiber-Reinforced Hydrogels with Excellent Tissue Adhesion

Abstract

Herein, we report a simple approach to modify hydrophobic PCL nanofibers by adsorption of a fiber-homologous amphiphilic triblock copolymer (PCL-b-PEG-b-PCL, PCEC). The modified PCL nanofibers were then utilized to reinforce a physical hydrogel, which was formed by micellar crosslinking of the same PCEC triblock copolymer. Therefore, the copolymer played a dual role in not only dispersing and stabilizing nanofibers but also additionally providing a framework for the hydrogel matrix. The mechanical strength of the hydrogel was significantly enhanced by addition of the modified PCL nanofibers, and the gel modulus can be tuned by varying the concentration of the copolymer and nanofibers. The effect of nanofiber size and content on the mechanical properties of the hydrogel matrices was studied. Different from hydrogel composites that were reinforced by 2D fiber meshes or 3D woven fiber networks, this free fiber-reinforced hydrogel can be readily injected to adapt to the environmental shape and self-heal. The hydrogel composites showed superior tissue adhesion properties compared to the commercially available fibrin glue, especially in muscle adhesion. Due to its injectable and self-healing properties, this nanofiber-reinforced hydrogel may have great potential as a new type of tissue sealant.

Injectable, stretchable, toughened, bioadhesive composite hydrogel for bladder injury repair

“… 43 Finally, the hydrogen bonds that the free PEO segment in F127DA can form with protein-rich substrates, and the hydrophobic interactions provided by the PPO segment with the cell membrane, promote the adhesion properties of the hydrogel. 44 …”

“…43 Finally, the hydrogen bonds that the free PEO segment in F127DA can form with protein-rich substrates, and the hydrophobic interactions provided by the PPO segment with the cell membrane, promote the adhesion properties of the hydrogel. 44 In vitro burst pressure test Hydrogels that bind tightly to tissues can complement or even replace sutures and staples. The burst pressure is a key metric for assessing the sealing properties of hydrogels for bladder repair.…”

Electrospun nanofibers for drug delivery applications: Methods and mechanism

“…The release capacity of the therapeutic drugs decreased and the functionality of the surface immobilized biomolecules is well maintained. This technique is used also in gene delivery, due to its prolonged and slow release behavior 114 . Surface modification can also be done in blended electrospun nanofibers, which may increase the slow release behavior of biomolecules 114 .…”

“…So there is a need for the surface modification of synthetic nanofibers with natural biopolymers using post‐treatment method to improve their bioavailability. Modified surface of nanofiber mats with bioactive molecules will enhance the specific phenotype cell growth as in tissue engineering, which involves biologically active molecules and directly interact with the surface of cells 114 . So, this technique is mainly used in tissue engineering.…”

A review on biopolymer-derived electrospun nanofibers for biomedical and antiviral applications

“…Zhong et al reported the preparation of nanofiber reinforced hydrogels with excellent tissue adhesion. 79 The polycaprolactone-poly(ethylene glycol) (PCEC) micelles were shown to absorb onto the surface of PCL films or fibers, increasing their hydrophilicity and thereby assisting in the homogeneous dispersion of nanofibers in the hydrogel. The nanofiber/hydrogel combination has greater adhesion burst pressure on pigskin and muscle than commercial fibrin glue, indicating considerable potential for tissue sealing and hemorrhage control.…”