مرضیه رنجبر محمدی

Hypothesis: Nowadays, nanotechnology has an important role in the medical industry. Electrospun nanofibers with interconnected structure, high surface-to-volume ratio and good porosity are used in various medical fields. Nanofibers morphology is very effective in their mechanical, thermal, physical and biological properties. The aim of this study is to produce structures with smooth surface and minimized diameter. Methods: Production assessments are made on hybrid nanofibrous structures using combinations of poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan (PVA/CS), and gelatin/polycaprolactone (Gel/PCL). The process is done through the electrospinning process of two nozzles facing each other. For this purpose, Gel/PCL has been injected from a nozzle and CS/PVA from another nozzle and the produced nanofibers are collected on a rotating collector. By a Taguchi test design the effect of variable parameters (PVA/CS ratios of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30; gel/PCL ratios of 80:20, 50:50, 20:80; and CS/PVA feed rates of 1, 1.5, 2 mL/h) on morphological properties of the produced scaffold is evaluated. Findings: According to the results, nanofibers with the blend ratios of 75:25 and 80:20 for CS/PVA and gel/PCL, respectively, and flow rate of 1 mL/h for PVA/CS showed an average diameter of about 130 nm and a suitable morphology. A hybrid scaffold made of gel/PCL-PVA/CS can be considered as a very suitable and practical biomaterial in the field of diabetic wound healing, because the presence of gel and CS as natural polymers with excellent biological properties and PCL with high elastic property provide good conditions for imitating natural skin behavior.