PREPARATION OF SILK FIBROIN/ GELATIN/ CHITOSAN BLENDED NANOFIBROUS MEMBRANES TO BE USED AS BARRIER MEMBRANES

Abstract

In this study, various compositions of silk fibroin (SF)/ gelatin (G)/ chitosan (C) in formic acid solutions were electrospun into nanofiber mats. The blending ratios ranged of 10:20:0, 10:20:0.5, 10:20; 1, 10:20:1.5, 10:20:2, and 20:10:1(wt%: wt%: wt%). When the chitosan content in blended solution increased, the average diameter decreased from 280 to 100 nm and fiber sizes distribution was narrow. The formic acid as solvent did not affect the electrospinnability and morphology of SF: G: C blended nanofiber. The appropriate condition of electrospinning process of SF: G: C of 10:20:1 and 20:10:1 blended solution at 20 kV could generate the uniform nanofibers without beads. Tensile strength of SF: G: C (10:20:1) blended nanofiber was decreased with increasing of silk fibroin content, SF: G: C (20:10:1). The nanofiber mats were crosslinked with the vapor of ethanol, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) /N-hydroxysuccinmide (NHS) (EDC/NHS), and glutaraldehyde (GA) for 72 hours, rinsed in distilled water for 30 minutes and then drying in a desiccator at room temperature. It was found that EDC/NHS was able to maintain the original nanofiber morphology after water exposure. It was observed that the SF: G: C at 20:10:1 swelled lower than SF: G: C at 10:20:1. The gelatin effected to swelling of nanofiber mats. The results showed that the EDC/NHS- crosslinked SF: G C (20:10:1) nanofiber mats was selected for the biological testing. In vitro testing of gingival tissues showed good cell adhesion and proliferation. The results indicated that SF: G: C electrospun nanofiber mats could be prepared and have a potential to be applied in barrier membrane application.