Silk Fibroin Based Core-Shell Nanofibers Loaded With Zno Nanoparticles: An Ideal Candidate for Designing a Medicated Wound Dressing Publisher



Moradi S^{1, 2} ; Nazarian S² ; Milan PB³ ; Nilforoushzadeh MA¹ ; Zargan J²
Source: Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering Published:2023

Abstract

Purpose: Efficient addressing of injuries and wounds is one of the major demands of global healthcare systems. In the present study, we optimized multiple factors relevant to the coaxial electrospinning method to fabricate a novel and cost-effective core-shell nanofibrous scaffold consisting of silk fibroin as the shell and sodium alginate loaded with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as the core. Methods: We confirmed the successful configuration of core-shell nanofibers and even ZnO encapsulation within the core using transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy. Incorporation of ZnO-NPs into the core of electrospun nanofibers enabled sustained drug release and preserved its bioactivity. Results: Antimicrobial evaluation of core-shell nanofibers showed their appropriate antibacterial activity against the gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and the gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. However, E. coli was more resistant than S. aureus to ZnO-NPs. Additionally, the cytotoxicity and cell adhesion analyses suggested the appropriate cell attachment, viability, and proliferation on the ZnO-loaded core-shell nanofibers, which are fundamental for wound healing and skin regeneration. Conclusion: Considering the used materials and our promising results, the synthesized nanofibrous scaffold would be efficient and affordable for mass production and clinical usage for designing a medicated wound dressing. © 2023, Taiwanese Society of Biomedical Engineering.