Enhanced axonal regeneration and functional recovery of the injured sciatic nerve in a rat model by lithium-loaded electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds

Increasing evidence indicates that engineered nerve grafts have great potential for the regeneration of peripheral nerve injuries(PNIs).While most studies have focused only on the topographical features of the grafts,we have considered both the biophysical and biochemical manipulations in our applied nanoscaffold.To achieve this,we fabricated an electrospun nanofibrous scaffold(ENS)containing polylactide nanofibers loaded with lithium(Li)ions,a Wnt/β-catenin signaling activator.In addition,we seeded human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells(hADMSCs)onto this engineered scaffold to examine if their differentiation toward Schwann-like cells was induced.We further examined the efficacy of the scaffolds for nerve regeneration in vivo via grafting in a PNI rat model.Our results showed that Li-loaded ENSs gradually released Li within 11 d,at concentrations ranging from 0.02 to(3.64±0.10)mmol/L,and upregulated the expression of Wnt/β-catenin target genes(cyclinD1 and c-Myc)as well as those of Schwann cell markers(growth-associated protein 43(GAP43),S100 calcium binding protein B(S100B),glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP),and SRY-box transcription factor 10(SOX10))in differentiated hADMSCs.In the PNI rat model,implantation of Li-loaded ENSs with/without cells improved behavioral features such as sensory and motor functions as well as the electrophysiological characteristics of the injured nerve.This improved function was further validated by histological analysis of sciatic nerves grafted with Li-loaded ENSs,which showed no fibrous connective tissue but enhanced organized myelinated axons.The potential of Li-loaded ENSs in promoting Schwann cell differentiation of hADMSCs and axonal regeneration of injured sciatic nerves suggests their potential for application in peripheral nerve tissue engineering.

Embedding aligned nanofibrous architectures within 3D-printed polycaprolactone scaffolds for directed cellular infiltration and tissue regeneration

Three-dimensional(3D) printing provides a promising way to fabricate biodegradable scaffolds with designer architectures for the regeneration of various tissues.However,the existing3D-printed scaffolds commonly suffer from weak cell-scaffold interactions and insufficient cell organizations due to the limited resolution of the 3D-printed features.Here,composite scaffolds with mechanically-robust frameworks and aligned nanofibrous architectures are presented and hybrid manufactured by combining techniques of 3D printing,electrospinning,and unidirectional freeze-casting.It was found that the composite scaffolds provided volume-stable environments and enabled directed cellular infiltration for tissue regeneration.In particular,the nanofibrous architectures with aligned micropores served as artificial extracellular matrix materials and improved the attachment,proliferation,and infiltration of cells.The proposed scaffolds can also support the adipogenic maturation of adipose-derived stem cells(ADSCs)in vitro.Moreover,the composite scaffolds were found to guide directed tissue infiltration and promote nearby neovascularization when implanted into a subcutaneous model of rats,and the addition of ADSCs further enhanced their adipogenic potential.The presented hybrid manufacturing strategy might provide a promising way to produce additional topological cues within 3D-printed scaffolds for better tissue regeneration.

Preparation of polypyrrole-embedded electrospun poly(lactic acid) nanofibrous scaffolds for nerve tissue engineering

Polypyrrole （PPy） is a biocompatible polymer with good conductivity. Studies combining PPy with electrospinning have been reported; however, the associated decrease in PPy conductivity has not yet been resolved. We embedded PPy into poly（lactic acid） （PLA） nanofibers via electrospinning and fabricated a PLA/PPy nanofibrous scaffold containing 15% PPy with sustained conductivity and aligned topog- raphy, qhere was good biocompatibility between the scaffold and human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells as well as Schwann cells. Additionally, the direction of cell elongation on the scaffold was parallel to the direction of fibers. Our findings suggest that the aligned PLA/PPy nanofibrous scaffold is a promising biomaterial for peripheral nerve regeneration.

From 1D Nanofibers to 3D Nanofibrous Aerogels: A Marvellous Evolution of Electrospun SiO_(2) Nanofibers for Emerging Applications

One-dimensional(1D)SiO_(2) nanofibers(SNFs),one of the most popular inorganic nanomaterials,have aroused widespread attention because of their excellent chemical stability,as well as unique optical and thermal characteristics.Electrospinning is a straightforward and versatile method to prepare 1D SNFs with programmable structures,manageable dimensions,and modifiable properties,which hold great potential in many cutting-edge applications including aerospace,nanodevice,and energy.In this review,substantial advances in the structural design,controllable synthesis,and multifunctional applications of electrospun SNFs are highlighted.We begin with a brief introduction to the fundamental principles,available raw materials,and typical apparatus of electrospun SNFs.We then discuss the strategies for preparing SNFs with diverse structures in detail,especially stressing the newly emerging three-dimensional SiO_(2) nanofibrous aerogels.We continue with focus on major breakthroughs about brittleness-to-flexibility transition of SNFs and the means to achieve their mechanical reinforcement.In addition,we showcase recent applications enabled by electrospun SNFs,with particular emphasis on physical protection,health care and water treatment.In the end,we summarize this review and provide some perspectives on the future development direction of electrospun SNFs.

Tensile properties of tungsten-rhenium wires with nanofibrous structure

In this study, the mechanical properties of tungsten-rhenium wires with nanofibrous microstructure were investigated at both room temperature(RT) and 800?C. The strengthening mechanism associated to the nanofibrous microstructure was discussed. The results showed that the tungsten-rhenium wires with nanofibrous grains exhibited a very high tensile strength reaching values of 3.5 GPa and 4.4 GPa for the coarse(grains diameter of 240 nm) and fine(grains diameter of 80 nm) wires, respectively. With increasing the temperature from RT to 800?C, the tensile strength decreased slightly but still held high values(1.8 GPa and 3.8 GPa). All the fracture surfaces exhibited apparent necking and characteristics of spear-edge shaped fracture surface, indicating excellent ductility of the wires. A model of the strengthening mechanism of these tungsten-rhenium wires was proposed.

Immobilization and Properties of Lipase from Candida rugosa on Electrospun Nanofibrous Membranes with Biomimetic Phospholipid Moities

Reported here is a protocol to fabricate a biocatalyst with high enzyme loading and activity retention, from the conjugation of electrospun nanofibrous membrane having biomimetic phospholipid moiety and lipase. To improve the catalytic efficiency and activity of the immobilized enzyme, poly（acrylonitrile-co-2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine）s（PANCMPCs） were, respectively, electrospun into nanofibrous membranes with a mean diameter of 90 nm, as a support for enzyme immobilization. Lipase from Candida rugosa was immobilized on these nanofibrous membranes by adsorption. Properties of immobilized lipase on PANCMPC nanofibrous membranes were compared with those of the lipase immobilized on the polyacrylonitrile（PAN） nanofibrous and sheet membranes, respectively. Effective enzyme loading on the nanofibrous membranes was achieved up to 22.0 mg/g, which was over 10 times that on the sheet membrane. The activity retention of immobilized lipase increased from 56.4% to 76.8% with an increase in phospholipid moiety from 0 to 9.6%（molar fraction） in the nanofibrous membrane. Kinetic parameter Km was also determined for free and immobilized lipase. The Km value of the immobilized lipase on the nanofibrous membrane was obviously lower than that on the sheet membrane. The optimum pH was 7.7 for free lipase, but shifted to 8.3-8.5 for immobilized lipases. The optimum temperature was determined to be 35 ℃ for the free enzyme, but 42-44℃ for the immobilized ones, respectively. In addition, the thermal stability, reusability, and storage stability of the immobilized lipase were obviously improved compared to the free one.

Electrospun Poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) Nanofibrous Membranes for Catalase Immobilization:Effect of Porphyrin Filling on the Enzyme Activity

Porphyrin-filled nanofibrous membranes were facilely prepared by electrospinning of the mixtures of poly（acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid）（PANCAA） and porphyrins. 5,10,15,20-Tetraphenylporphyrin（TPP） and its metal-loderivatives（ZnTPP and CuTPP） were studied as filling mediators for the immobilization of redox enzyme. Results indicate that the introduction of TPP, ZnTPP and CuTPP improves the retention activity of the immobilized catalase. Among these three porphyrins, the ZnTPP-filled PANCAA nanofibrous membrane exhibits an activity retention of 93%, which is an exciting improvement. This improvement is attributed to both the strong catalase-porphyrin affinity and the possible facilitated electron transfer induced by the porphyrin as evidenced by quartz crystal microbalance （QCM） and fluorescence spectroscopy studies.

Collagen/Chitosan Electrospun Nanofibrous Membrane for Wound Dressing

Collagen(Col)/chitosan(CS)nanofibrous membrane has great potential to be used as wound dressing.However,current Col/CS nanofibrous membrane produced from electrospinning can not offer sufficient mechanical strength for practical applications.Herein,a novel mixed solvent was used to prepare next-generation high-strength Col/CS nanofibrous membrane.Meanwhile,the optimal Col to CS weight ratio was investigated as well.The asproduced membrane was examined by scanning electron microscopy(SEM),attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIR),differential scanning calorimetry(DSC),and XF-1A tester to study its morphological,chemical,thermal and mechanical properties.The preliminary results demonstrated that the mechanical properties of Col/CS nanofibrous membranes were enhanced substantially with the increase of CS weight ratios from 0 to 90%and the optimal Col to CS weight ratio was determined to be 1∶1.A promising way was presented to fabricate Col/CS electrospun nanofibrous membrane with sufficient mechanical strength for practical wound dressing applications.

Self-assembling peptide nanofibrous hydrogel as a promising strategy in nerve repair after traumatic injury in the nervous system

Following injury in central nervous system（CNS）,there are pathological changes in the injured region,which include neuronal death,axonal damage and demyelination,inflammatory response and activation of glial cells.The proliferation of a large number of astrocytes results in the formation of glial scar.

Coordination of thin-film nanofibrous composite dialysis membrane and reduced graphene oxide aerogel adsorbents for elimination of indoxyl sulfate

The protein-bound uremic toxins,represented by indoxyl sulfate(IS),have been associated with the progression of chronic kidney disease and the development of cardiovascular disease in the presence of impaired renal function.Herein,we proposed a novel strategy of thin-film nanofibrous composite(TNFC)dialysis membrane combined with reduced graphene oxide(rGO)aerogel adsorbents for clinical removal of IS as well as high retention of proteins.The TFNC membrane was prepared by electrospinning in conjunction with coating-reaction method and proved to have good selectivity and permeability.To further improve the removal rate of toxins,we used a medium hydrothermal method following by freeze-drying treatment to obtain the r GO aerogel adsorbents.It exhibited excellent adsorption for IS with a maximum adsorption capacity of 69.40 mg·g^(-1)throughπ-πinteraction and hydrogen bonding interaction based on Langmuir isotherm models.Time-dependent absorption experiments showed that it reached adsorption equilibrium within 4 h,which was matched with the hemodialysis time.The coordination was significantly exhibited by introducing r GO aerogel blocks into the dialysate for absorbing the diffused free IS during hemodialysis.Taking the advantages of the TFNC dialysis membrane and the rGO aerogel,the volume of dialysate for hemodialysis was only one-tenth of that without adsorbent blocks but with very comparable dialysis performance(the clearance of IS at 51.8%and the retention of HSA over 98%),which could lighten conventional hemodialysis effectively and be benefit to realize the miniaturization of the hemodialysis equipment.Therefore,the coordination of the TFNC dialysis membrane and rGO aerogel adsorbents would open a new path for the development of portable artificial kidney.

Mineralized Composite Nanofibrous Mats for Bone Tissue Engineering

Composite nanofibrous mats consisting of poly( L-lactideco-ε-caprolactone)( PLCL) and collagen type I( COL) were fabricated by electrospinning,and ten times simulated body fluid(10SBF) were employed to mineralize nanofibrous mats. Ballshaped hydroxyapatite( HA) was deposited on the surface of nanofibrous mats in 1. 5 h at room temperature. Human fetal osteoblasts( hFob) were seeded to investigate their proliferation and differentiation on mineralized composite nanofibrous mats. The results showed that hFob grew well on mineralized composite nanofibrous mats and alkaline phosphatase( ALP) activity of hFob on mineralized composite nanofibrous mats at 14 d was much higher than that on untreated nanofibrous mats. Moreover,the expression of osteocalcin of cells on mineralized composite nanofibrous mats was also much higher than those on untreated nanofibrous mats at 7 d and 14 d. This mineralized composite nanofibrous mats may have a great potential for bone tissue engineering.

Nanofibrous scaffolds for the regeneration of nervous tissue

Introductons The biophysical organization of extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in tissue morphogenesis,remodeling and functions. In many types of tissues,e. g. ,blood vessel,nerve,heart,muscle,tendon and ligament,ECM has aniso-

VE TPGS-Loaded Silk Fibroin / Hydroxybutyl Chitosan Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Skin Care Application

Vitamin E( VE) is an ideal antioxidant and a stabilizing agent in biological membranes. In this study,silk fibroin( SF) /hydroxybutyl chitosan( HBC) nanofibrous scaffolds are loaded with VE tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate( VE TPGS) via electrospinning. SEM images show that the average nanofibrous diameter has no significant difference when the content of VE TPGS increases to 4. 0%( SF / HBC). However,the average nanofibrous diameter decreases largely to 200 nm when the VE TPGS content reaches 6. 0%. Furthermore,VE TPGS presents a sustained release behavior from the nanofibrous scaffolds. Cell viability studies of mouse skin fibroblasts( L929) demonstrate that VE TPGS loaded SF / HBC nanofibrous scaffolds present good cellular compatibility.Moreover,the incorporation of VE TPGS could strengthen the ability of SF / HBC nanofibrous scaffolds on protecting the cells against oxidation stress using the Tertbutyl hydroperoxide( t-BHP)-induced oxidative injury model. Therefore,VE TPGS-loaded SF /HBC nanofibrous scaffolds might be potential candidates for personal skin care,wound dressing and skin tissue engineering scaffolds.

Effect of Fiber Diameter and Air Gap on Acoustic Performance of Nanofibrous Membrane

The absorption of sound in the low frequency range is problematic with fibrous materials made up of coarser fibers. In that case, highly efficient sound absorption materials from much finer fibers must be developed. Although studies on the acoustic properties of conventional textile materials started in the nineties, analysis of the acoustic properties of the electrospun nanofibrous membranes is a novel subject. Nanofibrous membranes can improve acoustic insulation products by increasing the sound absorption coefficient, reducing material thickness, and decreasing material weight offering a competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effect of fiber diameter on the acoustic behavior of nanofibrous membranes.

Simulation of Structural Characteristics and Depth Filtration Elements in Interconnected Nanofibrous Membrane Based on Adaptive Image Analysis

Due to their unique structural features, electrospun membranes have gained considerable attention for use in applications where quality of depth filtration is a dominant performance factor. To elucidate the depth filtration phenomena it is important to quantify the intrinsic structural properties independent from the dynamics of transport media. Several methods have been proposed for structural characterization of such membranes. However, these methods do not meet the requirement for the quantification of intrinsic structural properties in depth filtration. This may be due to the complex influence of transport media dynamics and structural elements in the depth filtration process. In addition, the different morphological architectures of electrospun membranes present obstacles to precise quantification. This paper seeks to quantify the structural characteristics of electrospun membranes by introducing a robust image analysis technique and exploiting it to evaluate the permeation-filtration mechanism. To this end, a nanostructured fibrous network was simulated as an ideal membrane using adaptive local criteria in the image analysis. The reliability of the proposed approach was validated with measurements and comparison of structural characteristics in different morphological conditions. The results were found to be well compatible with empirical observations of perfect membrane structures. This approach, based on optimization of electrospinning parameters, may pave the way for producing optimal membrane structures for boosting the performance of electrospun membranes in end-use applications.

FEM Study of the Strain Kinematics in the 3D Nanofibrous Structure Prepared by the Electrospinning Process

Finite element model (FEM) was used for the study and description of the arising 3D nanofiber structure strain caused by the pressure of the flowing gas. Computer simulation using an adaptive networking through implicit FEM algorithm can be utilized for a significant improvement of the study of anisotropic strain in the deformed 3D nanostructure. The created model is based on the empirical Laplace-Poisson differential equation for the flow, where gas particles are moving with certain kinetic energy. The kinetic energy depends on the speed, time and temperature and affects the resulting strain of 3D nanofiber structure. The simulation results were compared to the results obtained from the image analysis of real samples and showed that this FEM model can determine individual phases of structure strain. The comparison shows that the developed FEM model can be an important tool in the study of the strain in the arising 3D nano- fiber structure and it can provide valuable information for optimization of 3D nanofiber structure production by the electrospinning process.

Electrocatalytic oxidation behavior of L-cysteine at Pt microparticles modified nanofibrous polyaniline film electrode

Platinum(Pt)/nanofibrous polyaniline(PANI) electrode was prepared by pulse galvanostatic method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy.The electrochemical behavior of L-cysteine at the Pt/nanofibrous PANI electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry.The results indicate that the pH value of the solution and the Pt loading of the electrode have great effect on the electrocatalytic property of the Pt /nanofibrous PANI electrode;the suitable Pt loading of the electrode is 600 μg/cm2 and the suitable pH value of the solution is 4.5 for investigating L-cysteine oxidation.The L-cysteine sensor based on the Pt/nanofibrous PANI electrode has a good selectivity,reproducibility and stability.The Pt/nanofibrous PANI electrode is highly sensitive to L-cysteine,and the linear calibration curve for the oxidation of L-cysteine can be observed in the range of 0.2-5.0 mmol/L.

Flexible regulation engineering of titanium nitride nanofibrous membranes for efficient electromagnetic microwave absorption in wide temperature spectrum

Simultaneous development of well impedance matching and strong loss capability has become a mainstream method for achieving outstanding electromagnetic microwave absorption(EMWA)performances over wide temperature range.However,it is difficult to pursue both due to the mutual restraint of relationship between impedance matching and loss capability about temperature.Here,we propose a flexible regulation engineering of titanium nitride(TiN)nanofibrous membranes(NMs,TNMs),which could be distributed uniformly in the polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS)matrix and contributed to the formation of abundant local conductive networks,generating the local conductive loss and enhancing the loss ability of EMWs.Moreover,when the TNMs are used as functional units and dispersed in the matrix,the corresponding composites exhibit an outstanding anti-reflection effect on microwaves.As hoped,under the precondition of good impedance matching,local conductive loss and polarization loss together improve the loss capacity at room temperature,and polarization loss can compensate the local conductive loss to acquire effective dielectric response at elevated temperature.Benefiting from the reasonably synergistic loss ability caused by flexible regulation engineering,the corresponding composites exhibit the perfect EMWA performances in a wide temperature range from 298 to 573 K.This work not only elaborates the ponderable insights of independent membrane in the composition-structure-function connection,but also provides a feasible tactic for resolving coexistence of well impedance matching and strong loss capability issues in wide temperature spectrum.

Electrospun nanofibrous membranes with antimicrobial activity for air filtration

Air pollution,including airborne pathogens and particulate matter(PM),has become a prominent issue affecting human health and safety.Conventional air filtration materials do not meet the requirements for efficient PM capture or do not instantly kill pathogens,leading to increased risk of direct/indirect contact transmission and infection due to the accumulation of pathogens during filtration.Electrospun nanofibrous membranes have emerged as a promising platform due to their rich porous structure,finer fiber diameters,good internal connectivity,and the ability to easily incorporate active chemicals for antimicrobial function.In this review,antimicrobial mechanisms of nanofibrous membranes for air filtration and PM capture mechanisms of nanofibers were firstly investigated,and various types of electrospun nanofibrous membranes with different antimicrobial agents for efficient air filtration were described in detail,including organic antimicrobial agents,inorganic antimicrobial agents and metal-organic frameworks.We hope this work could provide a better practical insight for designing novel electrospun nanofibrous membranes with antimicrobial efficacy for efficient air filtration.

Biomimetic design of highly flexible metal oxide nanofibrous membranes with exceptional mechanical performance for superior phosphopeptide enrichment

Developing free-standing and mechanical robust membrane materials capable of superior enrichment of phosphopeptides for analyzing and identifying the specific phosphoproteome of cancer cells is significant in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and exploring new therapeutic approaches,but still a significant challenge in materials design.To this end,we firstly constructed highly flexible ZrTiO_(4) nanofibrous membranes(NFMs)with excellent mechanical stability through a cost-effective and scalable electrospinning and subsequent calcination technique.Then,to further increase the enrichment capacity of the phosphopeptide,the biomimetic TiO_(2)@ZrTiO_(4) NFMs with root hair or leaf like branch microstructure are developed by the hydrothermal post-synthetic modification of ZrTiO_(4) NFMs through growing unfurling TiO_(2) nanosheets onto the ZrTiO_(4) nanofibers.Importantly,remarkable flexibility and mechanical stability enable the resulting TiO_(2)@ZrTiO_(4) NFMs excellent practicability,while the biomimetic microstructure allows it outstanding enrichment ability of the phosphopeptide and identification ability of the specific phosphoproteins in the digest of cervical cancer cells.Specifically,6770 phosphopeptides can be enriched by TiO_(2)@ZrTiO_(4) NFMs(2205 corresponding phosphoproteins can be identified),and the value is much higher than that of ZrTiO_(4) NFMs(6399 phosphopeptides and 2132 identified phosphoproteins)and commercial high-performance TiO_(2) particles(4525 phosphopeptides and 1811 identified phosphoproteins).These results demonstrate the super ability of TiO_(2)@ZrTiO_(4) NFMs in phosphopeptide enrichment and great potential for exploring the pathogenesis of cancer.