Aloe vera mucilage loaded gelatin electrospun fibers contained in polylactic acid coaxial system and polylactic acid and poly(e-caprolactone) tri-layer membranes for tissue engineering

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Castillo Ortega, María Mónica^a | Quiroz Castillo, Jesús Manuel^a | Del Castillo Castro, Teresa^a | Rodriguez Felix, Dora Evelia^a | Santacruz Ortega, Hisila del Carmen^a | Manero, Octavio^b | Lopez Gastelum, Karla Alejandra^{c; d} | Chan Chan, Lerma Hanaiy^e | Martinez, Diego Hernandez^f | Tapia Hernández, Jose Agustin^g | Plascencia Martínez, Damian Francisco^a;

Affiliations: [a] Department of Polymer and Materials Research, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico | [b] Department of Rheology and Mechanics of Materials, Institute of Materials Research, Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, Mexico | [c] Food and Development Research Center, Hermosillo, Mexico | [d] Department of Chemical Biological Sciences, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico | [e] Department of Physics, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico | [f] Department of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico | [g] Department of Food Technology and Sciences, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Damian Francisco Plascencia Martinez, Department of Polymer and Materials Research, University of Sonora, 83000 Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Tel.: +52 6622592100; E-mail: damian.plascencia@unison.mx

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Polymeric electrospun mats have been used as scaffolds in tissue engineering for the development of novel materials due to its characteristics. The usage of synthetic materials has gone in decline due to environmental problems associated with their synthesis and waste disposal. Biomaterials such as biopolymers have been used recently due to good compatibility on biological applications and sustainability. OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this work is to obtain novel materials based on synthetic and natural polymers for applications on tissue engineering. METHODS:Aloe vera mucilage was obtained, chemically characterized, and used as an active compound contained in electrospun mats. Polymeric scaffolds were obtained in single, coaxial and tri-layer structures, characterized and evaluated in cell culture. RESULTS:Mucilage loaded electrospun fibers showed good compatibility due to formation of hydrogen bonds between polymers and biomolecules from its structure, evidenced by FTIR spectra and thermal properties. Cell viability test showed that most of the obtained mats result on viability higher than 75%, resulting in nontoxic materials, ready to be used on scaffolding applications. CONCLUSION:Mucilage containing fibers resulted on materials with potential use on scaffolding applications due to their mechanical performance and cell viability results.

Keywords: Electrospinning, tissue engineering, Aloe vera, biomaterials

DOI: 10.3233/BME-240050

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 387-399, 2024