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. 2016 Jan 14;9(1):47.
doi: 10.3390/ma9010047.

Surface Functional Poly(lactic Acid) Electrospun Nanofibers for Biosensor Applications

Edurne González  1 , Larissa M Shepherd  2 , Laura Saunders  3 , Margaret W Frey  4
Affiliations

Surface Functional Poly(lactic Acid) Electrospun Nanofibers for Biosensor Applications

Edurne González et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

In this work, biotin surface functionalized hydrophilic non-water-soluble biocompatible poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanofibers are created for their potential use as biosensors. Varying concentrations of biotin (up to 18 weight total percent (wt %)) were incorporated into PLA fibers together with poly(lactic acid)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-b-PEG) block polymers. While biotin provided surface functionalization, PLA-b-PEG provided hydrophilicity to the final fibers. Morphology and surface-available biotin of the final fibers were studied by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and competitive colorimetric assays. The incorporation of PLA-b-PEG block copolymers not only decreased fiber diameters but also dramatically increased the amount of biotin available at the fiber surface able to bind avidin. Finally, fiber water stability tests revealed that both biotin and PLA-b-PEG, migrated to the aqueous phase after relatively extended periods of water exposure. The functional hydrophilic nanofiber created in this work shows a potential application as a biosensor for point-of-care diagnostics.

Keywords: avidin; biotin; electrospinning; functional nanofibers; poly(lactic acid) PLA; poly(lactic acid)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-b-PEG).

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Conflict of interest statement

Edurne González and Larissa M. Shepherd designed the experiments under the supervision of Margaret W. Frey; Laura Saunders and Larissa M. Shepherd performed the electrospinning experiments; Edurne González and Laura Saunders characterized the nanofibers; all the authors contributed to the data analysis and discussion; Edurne González wrote the paper.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
SEM images of PLA samples containing different amounts of biotin: (A) 0 wt %; (B) 5 wt %; (C) 10 wt % and (D) 18 wt %.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Average fiber diameter of PLA and PLA/PLA-b-PEG samples containing different amounts of biotin.
Figure 3
Figure 3
SEM images of PLA/PLA-b-PEG samples containing different amounts of biotin: (A) 0 wt %; (B) 5 wt %; (C) 10 wt % and (D) 18 wt %.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Sulfur/carbon (S/C) atom ratio of PLA and PLA/PLA-b-PEG samples with different biotin loading quantify by EDS analysis.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Illustrations and real pictures of the HABA/avidin solutions. Initially, HABA and avidin form a complex with a strong orange color (absorbs light at 500 nm). When a fiber containing biotin is added to the solution, avidin binds biotin due its higher affinity breaking the HABA/avidin complex and leading to a color change (decrease in the absorbance at 500 nm).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Surface available biotin of PLA and PLA/PLA-b-PEG samples containing different amounts of overall biotin.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Surface available biotin of PLA and PLA/PLA-b-PEG fibers containing 18 wt % of biotin after being immersed in water for different periods of time.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Weight loss of PLA and PLA/PLA-b-PEG fibers containing 0 and 18 wt % of biotin after being immersed in water for different periods of time.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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