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. 2021 Aug 25;11(9):2178.
doi: 10.3390/nano11092178.

Preparation of a Hydrogel Nanofiber Wound Dressing

Radek Jirkovec  1 , Alzbeta Samkova  2 , Tomas Kalous  1 , Jiri Chaloupek  1 , Jiri Chvojka  1
Affiliations

Preparation of a Hydrogel Nanofiber Wound Dressing

Radek Jirkovec et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

The study addressed the production of a hydrogel nanofiber skin cover and included the fabrication of hydrogel nanofibers from a blend of polyvinyl alcohol and alginate. The resulting fibrous layer was then crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, and, after 4 h of crosslinking, although the gelling component, i.e., the alginate, crosslinked, the polyvinyl alcohol failed to do so. The experiment included the comparison of the strength and ductility of the layers before and after crosslinking. It was determined that the fibrous layer following crosslinking evinced enhanced mechanical properties, which acted to facilitate the handling of the material during its application. The subsequent testing procedure proved that the fibrous layer was not cytotoxic. The study further led to the production of a modified hydrogel nanofiber layer that combined polyvinyl alcohol with alginate and albumin. The investigation of the fibrous layers produced determined that following contact with water the polyvinyl alcohol dissolved leading to the release of the albumin accompanied by the swelling of the alginate and the formation of a hydrogel.

Keywords: alginate; hydrogel; nanofibers; polyvinyl alcohol; skin cover.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Morphology of the produced fibrous layers. (A) PVA/gelatin, (B) PVA/alginate. Scale 10 µm.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The fiber layers following crosslinking. (A) PVA/gelatin after 24 h of crosslinking; scale 50 µm. (B) PVA/gelatin after 4 h of crosslinking; scale 10 µm. (C) PVA/alginate after 24 h of crosslinking; scale 50 µm. (D) PVA/alginate after 4 h of crosslinking; scale 10 µm.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The fiber layers following soaking in distilled water. (A) The PVA/gelatin fiber layer. (B) The PVA/alginate fiber layer.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The PVA fiber layer. (A) Prior to crosslinking. (B) After 4 h of exposure to the glutaraldehyde vapor. Scale 10 µm.
Figure 5
Figure 5
FTIR spectra of the PVA/alginate fiber layers before and after crosslinking.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Mechanical testing of the PVA/alginate layers. (A) Results of the tensile testing of the layers before (burgundy color) and after (blue color) crosslinking. (B) Maximum layer strength before and after crosslinking. (C) Maximum elongation of the layers before and after crosslinking. 95% confidence interval (CI); *** p < 0.0006, **** p < 0.0001.
Figure 7
Figure 7
PVA/alginate fibrous layer cytotoxicity assay, 95% CI.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The PVA/alginate fiber layer with albumin. (A) Fiber layer before crosslinking; scale 50 µm. (B) Fiber layer after 4 h of crosslinking; scale 10 µm.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Cytotoxicity assay of the modified PVA/alginate/albumin fiber layer, 95% CI.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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