To improve durability in wet conditions, electrospun chitosan (CTS) nanofibers were submersed into PBS (pH 7.4) solutions containing varied amounts of genipin (GP 0.1, 0.5, and 1% w/v) for crosslinking treatment. GP-crosslinking allowed the electrospun CTS nanofibers to maintain their fibrous morphology in wet state. Maximum tensile strength, 84.2% of the dry state strength, was attained when crosslinking was performed in GP 0.5% solution. GP-crosslinking also endowed the CTS nanofibers with enhanced resistances to swelling and enzymatic degradation. GP-crosslinked CTS nanofibers were found to significantly promote the adhesion and growth of the L929 fibroblasts, with the most suitable sample was the one crosslinked in the GP 0.5% solution as well. Our results suggest that crosslinking with the 0.5% GP in PBS could yield CTS nanofibers with improved wet stability in nanofiber structure and optimized mechanical and biological performances.
Keywords: Chitosan; Crosslinking; Cytocompatibility; Electrospinning; Genipin.
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