ISEL - Engenharia Biomédica - Dissertações de Mestrado
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Percorrer ISEL - Engenharia Biomédica - Dissertações de Mestrado por orientador "Araújo, Marco"
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- Biofunctionalization of electrospun meshes to promote skin regenerationPublication . Gonçalves, Daniela Alexandra Chainho; Dias, Juliana; Araújo, Marco; Calado, Cecília Ribeiro da CruzAbstract Electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (ePCL) meshes offer promising wound-healing properties but suffer from limited hydrophilicity and bioactivity. This work explores whether covalent biofunctionalization with chitosan (CS), gelatin (Gel), or arginine (Arg) can enhance their physicochemical performance and cell response. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) was electrospun, hydrolyzed to expose –COOH groups, and functionalized using carbodiimide chemistry with increasing concentrations of each biomolecule. Physicochemical characterization (SEM/EDX, FTIR-ATR, porosity/density, water vapor transmission rate, water contact angle) and mechanical properties (Young’s modulus, elongation and tensile strength at break) were performed. Biocompatibility was assessed with L929 fibroblasts via indirect/direct contact and 14-day proliferation, as well as cell morphology and fibronectin deposition were examined by SEM/confocal microscopy. All coatings were successfully immobilized without compromising mesh porosity, which remained within the tissue-engineering range (~60–90%). Water vapor transmission rates were preserved at clinically relevant levels. Surface wettability improved markedly, with Arg producing highly hydrophilic surfaces across all concentrations, while CS at 0.5 wt% also reduced hydrophobicity substantially; in contrast, Gel displayed a concentration-dependent effect, becoming hydrophobic at 1 wt%. Mechanical testing revealed moderate stiffening at intermediate Gel and Arg concentrations, although extensibility and tensile strength decreased relative to unmodified meshes. No formulation exhibited cytotoxicity. Fibroblast metabolic activity increased for all coatings compared with ePCL, with Gel (0.5 wt%) and Arg (1 wt%) promoting early gains at day 3, whereas CS (0.1 wt%) sustained proliferation through day 14. Overall, biofunctionalization of CS, Gel, and Arg onto ePCL yielded scaffolds combining high porosity, favourable vapour permeability, and improved cell interactions. CS at 0.1 wt%, Gel at 0.5 wt% and Arg at 1 wt% offered the most balanced profiles, suggesting these coatings as promising candidates for advanced wound dressings.