Fabrication and characterization of PCL/zein/gum arabic electrospun nanocomposite scaffold for skin tissue engineering

Highlights: • Novel composite scaffold was prepared from a mixture of PCL polymers, zein and gum arabic by electrospinning • Porosity in all PCL/Zein/Gum arabic scaffolds were higher than 77% which is suitable for cells infiltration • Presence of the gum arabic had a significant effect on the hydrophilicity of the composite scaffolds • Scaffolds showed enhanced cell viability and infiltration • PCL/Zein/Gum arabic scaffolds offered antibacterial property due to the presence of cyanogenic glycosides in gum arabic - Abstract: The main role of tissue engineering is to produce the artificial tissue for replacing the biological functions in tissue regeneration and wounds healing. The purpose of this research was to produce porous nanofiber scaffold by electrospinning to compensate deep skin damages. In order to simulate a scaffold similar to the natural extracellular matrix of the skin, a mixture of corn protein (Zein), polycaprolactone (PCL) and gum arabic (GA) was used with different concentrations and ratios. Zein and GA polymers were used as a protein and polysaccharide component of the scaffold and PCL polymer for elasticity, strength and time setting of scaffold degradability. For investigating morphology and scaffold compounds, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared techniques were used. Furthermore, mechanical properties, porosity, water absorption and degradability in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were investigated. Antibacterial properties, cell adhesion and proliferation were also evaluated. SEM results showed that fabricated PCL/Zein/GA scaffolds had a porous structure with bimodal diameters distribution. PCL/Zein/GA scaffolds showed high hydrophilic properties, favorable porosity (about 80%) and tensile strength of 1.36–3 MPa with an elongation of 19.13–44.06% desirable for skin tissue engineering. SEM images of degraded specimens show that the scaffold retains its fibrous structure during its destruction. The results of bacterial culture indicated that the scaffold containing GA had antibacterial properties. Moreover, in vitro assays revealed favorable L929 cells proliferation compared to tissue culture polystyrene (control). Hence, the PCL/Zein/GA scaffold shows a good potential for application in skin tissue engineering.