RESUMEN
The surface modification of materials obtained from natural polymers, such as silk fibroin with metal nanoparticles that exhibit intrinsic electrical characteristics, allows the obtaining of biocomposite materials capable of favoring the propagation and conduction of electrical impulses, acting as communicating structures in electrically isolated areas. On that basis, this investigation determined the electrochemical and electroconductive behavior through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of a silk fibroin electrospun membrane from silk fibrous waste functionalized with gold or silver nanoparticles synthetized by green chemical reduction methodologies. Based on the results obtained, we found that silk fibroin from silk fibrous waste (SFw) favored the formation of gold (AuNPs-SFw) and silver (AgNPs-SFw) nanoparticles, acting as a reducing agent and surfactant, forming a micellar structure around the individual nanoparticle. Moreover, different electrospinning conditions influenced the morphological properties of the fibers, in the presence or absence of beads and the amount of sample collected. Furthermore, treated SFw electrospun membranes, functionalized with AuNPs-SFw or AgNPS-SFw, allowed the conduction of electrical stimuli, acting as stimulators and modulators of electric current.
RESUMEN
Tissue engineering has focused on the development of biomaterials that emulate the native extracellular matrix. Therefore, the purpose of this research was oriented to the development of nanofibrillar bilayer membranes composed of polycaprolactone with low and medium molecular weight chitosan, evaluating their physicochemical and biological properties. Two-bilayer membranes were developed by an electrospinning technique considering the effect of chitosan molecular weight and parameter changes in the technique. Subsequently, the membranes were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform spectroscopy, stress tests, permeability, contact angle, hemolysis evaluation, and an MTT test. From the results, it was found that changes in the electrospinning parameters and the molecular weight of chitosan influence the formation, fiber orientation, and nanoarchitecture of the membranes. Likewise, it was evidenced that a higher molecular weight of chitosan in the bilayer membranes increases the stiffness and favors polar anchor points. This increased Young's modulus, wettability, and permeability, which, in turn, influenced the reduction in the percentage of cell viability and hemolysis. It is concluded that the development of biomimetic bilayer nanofibrillar membranes modulate the physicochemical properties and improve the hemolytic behavior so they can be used as a hemocompatible biomaterial.
