P. V. Popryadukhin

Wet spinning of fibers made of chitosan and chitin nanofibrils

Biocompatible and bioresorbable composite fibers consisting of chitosan filled with anisotropic chitin nanofibrils with the length of 600-800 nm and cross section of about 11-12 nm as revealed by SEM and XRD were prepared by coagulation. Both chitin and chitosan components of the composite fibers displayed preferred orientations. Orientation of chitosan molecules induced by chitin nanocrystallites was confirmed by molecular modeling. The incorporation of 0.1-0.3 wt.% of chitin nanofibrils into chitosan matrix led to an increase in strength and Young modulus of the composite fibers.

Composite materials based on chitosan and montmorillonite: Prospects for use as a matrix for cultivation of stem and regenerative cells

This work considers the structural and mechanical properties of composite materials based on chitosan, as well as montmorillonite micro- and nanoparticles and the possibility of using them for cultivation and targeted delivery of mesenchymal stem and regenerative cells. It has been shown that, upon addition of montmorillonite, the biomaterial acquires stability of structural and mechanical properties under conditions of sterilizational treatment and during manipulations in liquid media in the course of cell cultivation. With the aid of in vitro cultivation with the use of dermal fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells of adipose tissue, this material was shown to have a complex of properties providing matrix biocompatibility.

Structure and characteristics of chitosan-based fibers containing chrysotile and halloysite

With the use of the methods of X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, chitosan fibers prepared by coagulation into an alcohol-alkali mixture are shown to possess a two-phase structure containing C- and O-type crystallites. These fibers and composite fibers containing halloysite and Mg chrysotile nanotubes are characterized by anisotropic structure, i.e., by the orientation of both chitosan crystallites and Mg chrysotile particles along the fiber axis. A comparison of the rates of shear induced by passing of a polymer solution through a die and the data of rheological studies allows the conclusion that the structuring of chitosan solution under the applied field of shear stresses and the orientation of polymer macromolecules and filler nanotubes occur. An increase in the draw ratio during fiber spinning does not assist orientation of polymer crystallites but, in contrast, increases surface defectiveness and leads to the nucleation of longitudinal cracks; as a result, the strength of fibers decreases. The introduction of 5 wt % Mg chrysotile into the chitosan matrix markedly increases the mechanical characteristics of the composite fibers owing to the reinforcing action of oriented filler nanotubes.

Influence of spinning conditions on properties of chitosan fibers

Chitosan fibers were prepared by a coagulation method involving spinning from an acetic-acid solution (2%) of polymer (4%) in basic alcoholic solution. The influence of feed rate and shear rate of the polymer solution and the degree of orientational drawing on the structure and mechanical properties of the fibers were studied. The optimum spinning parameters were determined. The chitosan fibers had an anisotropic structure with the macromolecules oriented primarily along the fiber axis.

Tissue-Engineered Vascular Graft of Small Diameter Based on Electrospun Polylactide Microfibers

Tubular vascular grafts 1.1 mm in diameter based on poly(L-lactide) microfibers were obtained by electrospinning. X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy data demonstrated that the samples treated at T = 70°C for 1 h in the fixed state on a cylindrical mandrel possessed dense fibrous structure; their degree of crystallinity was approximately 44%. Strength and deformation stability of these samples were higher than those of the native blood vessels; thus, it was possible to use them in tissue engineering as bioresorbable vascular grafts. The experiments on including implantation into rat abdominal aorta demonstrated that the obtained vascular grafts did not cause pathological reactions in the rats; in four weeks, inner side of the grafts became completely covered with endothelial cells, and fibroblasts grew throughout the wall. After exposure for 12 weeks, resorption of PLLA fibers started, and this process was completed in 64 weeks. Resorbed synthetic fibers were replaced by collagen and fibroblasts. At that time, the blood vessel was formed; its neointima and neoadventitia were close to those of the native vessel in structure and composition.

Electrospinning of composite nanofibers based on chitosan, poly(ethylene oxide), and chitin nanofibrils

Composite chitosan nanofibers containing 20 wt % chitin nanofibrils and 10 wt % PEO are obtained via the electrospinning method. Additions of 0.5–20.0 wt % chitin nanofibrils into chitosan solutions with concentrations of 3–7 wt % in acetic acid (70 vol %) insignificantly increase the electrical conductivity, surface-tension coefficient, and viscosity of these mixed solutions. Decreases in the viscosities of chitosan solutions containing chitin nanofibrils with increases in shear rate provide evidence for the structuring of solutions and the orientation of chitosan macromolecules and chitin nanofibrils in the shear flow. The effects of shear stress and a high-voltage electric field on chitosan solutions containing chitin nanofibrils and PEO result in a decrease in the imperfection of composite nanofibers. The introduction of chitin nanofibrils allows the content of PEO in the composite nanofibers to be reduced.

Properties of Film Materials Based on Composite Nanofibers from Aliphatic Copolyamide and Carbon Nanotubes for Tissue Engineering

The investigation of the dependence of effective viscosity on shear rate for a water-alcohol solution of an aliphatic copolyamide and its mixtures with single-wall carbon nanotubes reveals that additives of the nanoparticles in the amount of 0.5 wt % lead to a substantial reduction in the effective viscosity as the shear rate rises. The measurement of the surface tension and electrical conductivity of the solutions bearing 0.1–2.0 wt % of the nanotubes allows one to choose an optimal mode for electrospinning of the composite nanofibers based on the aliphatic copolyamide. The introduction of carbon nanofibers reduces the specific resistance of the material to 8.9 × 109 Ω m, but increases the elastic modulus. The lack of cytotoxicity of the resulting materials and the high proliferative activity of human dermal fibroblasts on their surface allow one to use the film materials based on the composite nanofibers in cell technologies and as matrices for tissue engineering.

Biological resorption of fibers from chitosan in endomysium and perimysium of muscular tissue

The resorption of fibers from chitosan implanted into emdomysium and perimysium of the rat’s broadest muscle of the back is comparatively studied in vivo by the scanning electron microscopy and histologic analysis methods. It is shown that the mechanism and rate of resorption of the fibers from chitosan depend on the fiber localization in the muscular tissue. Implantation of chitosan fibers into endomysium, where they have been in direct contact with muscle fibers, results in 14 days in the formation of transverse cracks, fiber fragmentation, and their partial resorption. Complete resorption of fibers in endomysium is observed in 30 days. Fibers implanted into perimysium maintain integrity in 7 days of the experiment, and a fibrous tissue is formed around the fibers. There is no destruction of chitosan fibers in 45 days of the exposition. The biocompatibility of the chitosan fibers is confirmed by the effective adhesion and proliferation mesenchyme stem cells on their surface.

Matrices based on chitosan nanofibers for cell technologies

A material constituting a nonwoven mat consisting of intersecting fibers 100 to 400 nm in diameter was fabricated by the electrospinning of a chitosan solution supplemented with a biocompatible polymer. Optimal compositions of solution and electrospinning conditions were selected. The material was tested for cultivating mesenchymal stem cells. The adhesion and proliferation rate of the stem cells applied on the surface of nanofiber matrix were investigated. The good compatibility of the obtained material with stem cells was shown.

Structure and properties of porous film materials based on an aliphatic copolyamide

Phase segregation of solutions of ɛ-caprolactam-polyhexamethyleneadipamide copolymer in alcoholwater mixtures and the influence exerted on the pore structure and properties of film materials by the solution concentration and time of its keeping prior to deposition were studied.