ELECTROSPUN NANOFIBERS AND MEMBRANE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing nanofibers and nanofiber membranes and to the nanofibers and nanofiber membranes obtainable by such process.

Claims

1. A process for the preparation of a glycosaminoglycan-containing nanofiber membrane, comprising: a) providing a water solution containing: at least a glycosaminoglycan in an amount from 0.01% to 5.00%; at least a polymer chosen in the group consisting of hydrophilic cellulose derivatives; pullulan; mixtures of pullulan and chitosan; and mixtures of pullulan and hydrophilic cellulose derivatives and gelatins in amount of 1% to 30%; acetic acid in amount of at least 20%; and a polycarboxylic acid in an amount of 0.1% to 5.00%; all percentages being by weight with respect to the total weight of the water solution; b) electrospinning said water solution on a collector of an electrospinning apparatus to form nanofibers; and c) crosslinking said nanofibers to obtain a nanofiber membrane.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein said polymer is a mixture of chitosan in amount of 1% to 4% and pullulan in amount of 7% to 15%, all percentages being by weight with respect to the total weight of the water solution.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein said polymer is gelatin type B in an amount of 15% to 25%, all percentages being by weight with respect to the total weight of the water solution.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein said glycosaminoglycan is in an amount of 0.50.05%, percentages being by weight with respect to the total weight of the water solution.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein said water solution further comprises antimicrobial agents.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein said crosslinking comprises heating said nanofibers at a temperature of 100 C. to 170 C. for a period of at least 15 minutes.

7. A process according to claim 6, wherein said crosslinking comprises heating of said nanofibers at a temperature of 1501 C. for a period of at least 15 minutes.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein said polycarboxylic acid is citric acid or glutamic acid.

9. A process according to claim 8, wherein said water solution comprises citric acid in amount of 2% to 3%, all percentages being by weight with respect to the total weight of the solution.

10. A process according to claim 9, wherein said glycosaminoglycan is selected in the group consisting of chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid and mixtures thereof.

11. A nanofiber membrane obtainable by the process according to claim 1.

12. A nanofiber membrane according to claim 11 for use as a wound dressing, in tissue engineering or for biomedical applications.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

Description

EXAMPLES

[0080] The following compositions were prepared.

[0081] Composition 1: [0082] Chitosan base (deacetylation degree 98% ChitoClear low molecular weight 251000 Da, Primex, N) 2.5% w/w; [0083] Pullulan (food grade, Hayashibara, J) 10%. [0084] Citric acid 2.5% w/w

[0085] All the components were dissolved in acetic acid aqueous solution at 45% w/w.

[0086] Composition 2 [0087] Chondroitin sulfate (100 EP, Bioiberica) 0.5% w/w. [0088] Chitosan base (deacetylation degree 98% ChitoClear low molecular weight 251000 Da, Primex, N) 2.5% w/w; [0089] Pullulan (food grade, Hayashibara, J) 10%. [0090] Citric acid 2.5% w/w

[0091] All the components were dissolved in acetic acid aqueous solution at 45% w/w.

[0092] Composition 3 [0093] Hyaluronic sodium salt (intraocular, low molecular weight, Bioiberica) 0.5% w/w. [0094] Chitosan base (deacetylation degree 98% ChitoClear low molecular weight 251000 Da, Primex, N) 2.5% w/w; [0095] Pullulan (food grade, Hayashibara, J) 10%. [0096] Citric acid 2.5% w/w

[0097] All the components were dissolved in acetic acid aqueous solution at 45% w/w.

[0098] Composition 4: [0099] Chondroitin sulfate (100 EP, Bioiberica) 0.5% w/w. [0100] Pullulan (food grade, Hayashibara, J) 10%. [0101] Citric acid 2.5% w/w

[0102] All the components were dissolved in acetic acid aqueous solution at 45% w/w.

[0103] Composition 5 [0104] Hyaluronic sodium salt (intraocular, low molecular weight, Bioiberica) [0105] Pullulan (food grade, Hayashibara, J) 10%. [0106] Citric acid 2.5% w/w

[0107] All the components were dissolved in acetic acid aqueous solution at 45% w/w.

[0108] Composition 6: [0109] Chondroitin sulfate (100 EP, Bioiberica) 0.5% w/w. [0110] Gelatin B 10%. [0111] Citric acid 2.5% w/w

[0112] All the components were dissolved in acetic acid aqueous solution at 45% w/w.

[0113] Composition 7: [0114] Hyaluronic sodium salt (intraocular, low molecular weight, Bioiberica) [0115] Gelatin B 10%. [0116] Citric acid 2.5% w/w

[0117] All the components were dissolved in acetic acid aqueous solution at 37.5% or 45% w/w.

[0118] The so obtained compositions 1, 2, 3, 4 were electrospun, separately from each other, by using an eletrospinning apparatus equipped with a high voltage DC (direct current) source (40 kV), a 10 ml syringe with luer-lock connections to a metallic tip, a volumetric pump (Razel R99-E) and a Plexiglass collector coated with aluminum foil for random collection and a rotating drum for aligned nanofibers. The so obtained nanofibers were subjected to thermal treatment at 150 C. for 1 h to obtain insoluble membranes.

[0119] In the attached figures:

[0120] FIG. 1 shows SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) images of nanofibrous membranes obtained from a) composition 1 b) composition 2; and c) composition 3.

[0121] FIG. 2 shows CLSM (Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy) images of fibroblasts grown on the membranes of FIG. 1 after 7 days of growth;

[0122] FIG. 3 shows SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) images of fibroblasts grown on the membranes of FIG. 1 after 7 days of growth; and

[0123] FIG. 4 shows histology of intact skin section 0) and skin sections after 18 days of treatment with the membranes obtained from a) composition 1 b) composition 2; and c) composition 3 and d) saline solution as negative control.