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Nanomaterials
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Functionalization of Electrospun Nanofibers in Bioengineering
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Functionalization of Electrospun Nanofibers in Bioengineering

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Biology and Medicines".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 October 2021) | Viewed by 27967

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Margaret Frey

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
Interests: nanofibers; surface functionalization for specific capture of chemicals and biomolecules; incorporation in microfluidic devices; incorporation with textiles for filtration; human protection and comfort

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The functionalization of nanofiber surfaces to provide critical functions in bioengineering is currently a topic of great interest. Functionalization of nanofibers with a wide array of biomolecules including enzymes, antibodies, DNA, aptamers, etc., has been achieved via a wide variety of techniques including encapsulation, adsorption, and covalent bonding of the biomolecules to the nanofiber structures. The functionalized nanofiber membranes have enhanced performance of membranes in fields ranging from tissue engineering, sensing, drug delivery, sample purification, wastewater remediation, catalysis, and other processes. Additionally, combining the high surface-to-volume ratio of nanofiber membranes with the functionality of biomolecules has improved performance, increased ease of handling, and enhanced stability and reusability in bioengineering applications.

This Special Issue invites manuscripts that present new methods and techniques of preparing biofunctional nanofiber membranes and advances in the use and applications of these membranes. The issue will include both fundamental and applied research topics including but not limited to:

  • Nanofiber functionalization processes
  • Functionalized nanofiber performance
  • Bioengineering applications of nanofibers
  • Devices incorporating biofunctional nanofibers
  • Stability of biofunctionality on nanofiber membranes
  • Reaction mechanisms and kinetics of nanofiber functionalization

Prof. Dr. Margaret Frey
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2793 KiB  
Article
Synthesis, Fabrication, and Characterization of Functionalized Polydiacetylene Containing Cellulose Nanofibrous Composites for Colorimetric Sensing of Organophosphate Compounds
by A K M Mashud Alam, Donovan Jenks, George A. Kraus and Chunhui Xiang
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 1869; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11081869 - 21 Jul 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2703
Abstract
Organophosphate (OP) compounds, a family of highly hazardous chemical compounds included in nerve agents and pesticides, have been linked to more than 250,000 annual deaths connected to various chronic diseases. However, a solid-state sensing system that is able to be integrated into a [...] Read more.
Organophosphate (OP) compounds, a family of highly hazardous chemical compounds included in nerve agents and pesticides, have been linked to more than 250,000 annual deaths connected to various chronic diseases. However, a solid-state sensing system that is able to be integrated into a clothing system is rare in the literature. This study aims to develop a nanofiber-based solid-state polymeric material as a soft sensor to detect OP compounds present in the environment. Esters of polydiacetylene were synthesized and incorporated into a cellulose acetate nanocomposite fibrous assembly developed with an electrospinning technique, which was then hydrolyzed to generate more hydroxyl groups for OP binding. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Instron® tensile tester, contact angle analyzer, and UV–Vis spectroscopy were employed for characterizations. Upon hydrolysis, polydiacetylene esters in the cellulosic fiber matrix were found unaffected by hydrolysis treatment, which made the composites suitable for OP sensing. Furthermore, the nanofibrous (NF) composites exhibited tensile properties suitable to be used as a textile material. Finally, the NF composites exhibited colorimetric sensing of OP, which is visible to the naked eye. This research is a landmark study toward the development of OP sensing in a protective clothing system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalization of Electrospun Nanofibers in Bioengineering)
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16 pages, 3034 KiB  
Article
pH-Responsive Chitosan/Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complexes on Electrospun PLGA Nanofibers for Controlled Drug Release
by Jean Schoeller, Fabian Itel, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Sandra Gaiser, Nicolas Luisier, Dirk Hegemann, Stephen J. Ferguson, Giuseppino Fortunato and René M. Rossi
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1850; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11071850 - 17 Jul 2021
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 5976
Abstract
The surface functionalization of electrospun nanofibers allows for the introduction of additional functionalities while at the same time retaining the membrane properties of high porosity and surface-to-volume ratio. In this work, we sequentially deposited layers of chitosan and alginate to form a polyelectrolyte [...] Read more.
The surface functionalization of electrospun nanofibers allows for the introduction of additional functionalities while at the same time retaining the membrane properties of high porosity and surface-to-volume ratio. In this work, we sequentially deposited layers of chitosan and alginate to form a polyelectrolyte complex via layer-by-layer assembly on PLGA nanofibers to introduce pH-responsiveness for the controlled release of ibuprofen. The deposition of the polysaccharides on the surface of the fibers was revealed using spectroscopy techniques and ζ-potential measurements. The presence of polycationic chitosan resulted in a positive surface charge (16.2 ± 4.2 mV, pH 3.0) directly regulating the interactions between a model drug (ibuprofen) loaded within the polyelectrolyte complex and the layer-by-layer coating. The release of ibuprofen was slowed down in acidic pH (1.0) compared to neutral pH as a result of the interactions between the drug and the coating. The provided mesh acts as a promising candidate for the design of drug delivery systems required to bypass the acidic environment of the digestive tract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalization of Electrospun Nanofibers in Bioengineering)
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13 pages, 16710 KiB  
Article
Enzymatic Time-Temperature Indicator Prototype Developed by Immobilizing Laccase on Electrospun Fibers to Predict Lactic Acid Bacterial Growth in Milk during Storage
by Ting-Yu Tsai, Shih-Hsin Chen, Li-Chen Chen, Shih-Bin Lin, Shyi-Neng Lou, Yen-Hui Chen and Hui-Huang Chen
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(5), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11051160 - 29 Apr 2021
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3119
Abstract
Laccase was immobilized on a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/tetraethylorthosilicate electrospun film (ceCPTL) and colored with guaiacol to obtain a laccase time–temperature indicator (TTI) prototype. The activation energy (Ea) of coloration of the prototype was 50.89–33.62 kJ/mol when 8–25 μg/cm2 laccase was immobilized [...] Read more.
Laccase was immobilized on a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/tetraethylorthosilicate electrospun film (ceCPTL) and colored with guaiacol to obtain a laccase time–temperature indicator (TTI) prototype. The activation energy (Ea) of coloration of the prototype was 50.89–33.62 kJ/mol when 8–25 μg/cm2 laccase was immobilized on ceCPTL, and that of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth in milk was 73.32 kJ/mol. The Ea of coloration of the TTI prototype onto which 8–10 μg/cm2 laccase was immobilized was in the required range for predicting LAB growth in milk. The coloration endpoint of the TTI prototype onto which 10 μg/cm2 (0.01 U) laccase was immobilized could respond to the LAB count reaching 106 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL in milk during a static temperature response test, and the prediction error was discovered to be low. In dynamic temperature response experiments with intermittent temperature changes between 4 and 25 °C, the coloration rate of the laccase TTI prototype was consistent with LAB growth. The results of this study indicate that the laccase TTI prototype can be applied as a visual monitoring indicator to assist in evaluating milk quality in cold chains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalization of Electrospun Nanofibers in Bioengineering)
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Review

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15 pages, 1839 KiB  
Review
Encapsulation of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Active Ingredients Using Electrospinning Processes
by Mina Zare, Karolina Dziemidowicz, Gareth R. Williams and Seeram Ramakrishna
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 1968; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11081968 - 30 Jul 2021
Cited by 66 | Viewed by 6642
Abstract
Electrospinning is an inexpensive and powerful method that employs a polymer solution and strong electric field to produce nanofibers. These can be applied in diverse biological and medical applications. Due to their large surface area, controllable surface functionalization and properties, and typically high [...] Read more.
Electrospinning is an inexpensive and powerful method that employs a polymer solution and strong electric field to produce nanofibers. These can be applied in diverse biological and medical applications. Due to their large surface area, controllable surface functionalization and properties, and typically high biocompatibility electrospun nanofibers are recognized as promising materials for the manufacturing of drug delivery systems. Electrospinning offers the potential to formulate poorly soluble drugs as amorphous solid dispersions to improve solubility, bioavailability and targeting of drug release. It is also a successful strategy for the encapsulation of nutraceuticals. This review aims to briefly discuss the concept of electrospinning and recent progress in manufacturing electrospun drug delivery systems. It will further consider in detail the encapsulation of nutraceuticals, particularly probiotics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalization of Electrospun Nanofibers in Bioengineering)
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39 pages, 9629 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review of the Covalent Immobilization of Biomolecules onto Electrospun Nanofibers
by Soshana Smith, Katarina Goodge, Michael Delaney, Ariel Struzyk, Nicole Tansey and Margaret Frey
Nanomaterials 2020, 10(11), 2142; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano10112142 - 27 Oct 2020
Cited by 127 | Viewed by 8563
Abstract
Biomolecule immobilization has attracted the attention of various fields such as fine chemistry and biomedicine for their use in several applications such as wastewater, immunosensors, biofuels, et cetera. The performance of immobilized biomolecules depends on the substrate and the immobilization method utilized. Electrospun [...] Read more.
Biomolecule immobilization has attracted the attention of various fields such as fine chemistry and biomedicine for their use in several applications such as wastewater, immunosensors, biofuels, et cetera. The performance of immobilized biomolecules depends on the substrate and the immobilization method utilized. Electrospun nanofibers act as an excellent substrate for immobilization due to their large surface area to volume ratio and interconnectivity. While biomolecules can be immobilized using adsorption and encapsulation, covalent immobilization offers a way to permanently fix the material to the fiber surface resulting in high efficiency, good specificity, and excellent stability. This review aims to highlight the various covalent immobilization techniques being utilized and their benefits and drawbacks. These methods typically fall into two categories: (1) direct immobilization and (2) use of crosslinkers. Direct immobilization techniques are usually simple and utilize the strong electrophilic functional groups on the nanofiber. While crosslinkers are used as an intermediary between the nanofiber substrate and the biomolecule, with some crosslinkers being present in the final product and others simply facilitating the reactions. We aim to provide an explanation of each immobilization technique, biomolecules commonly paired with said technique and the benefit of immobilization over the free biomolecule. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Functionalization of Electrospun Nanofibers in Bioengineering)
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