Affiliations: Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey | Department of Textile Engineering, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey | Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey | Department of Histology and Embryology, Uludag University, Bursa, Turkey
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Esra Karaca, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Textile Engineering, Uludag University, 16059, Gorukle, Bursa, Turkey. Tel.: +90 224 2942052; Fax: +90 224 2941903; E-mail: ekaraca@uludag.edu.tr
Abstract: Poly(vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate nanofibrous mats were produced by electrospinning method at optimum process parameters. Evaluation of alginate-based electrospun nanofibrous mats as a wound dressing material and their comparison to commercially available wound dressings produced with conventional methods were carried out in vivo. Tissue specimens were examined histopathologically on 4th, 6th, 15th, 21st postoperative days. In contrast to other dressings it was observed that nanofibrous mat could survive on the wound crust in early stages of healing. In terms of epithelization, epidermis characteristics, vascularization and formation of hair follicles, nanofibrous mat showed the best healing performance. This could be explained with presence of nanofibrous mat acting as an artificial skin on the wound region until new tissue regenerated.
Keywords: Electrospinning, nanofiber, alginate, wound dressing, histological evaluation, in vivo
