Electrospun hyaluronate–collagen nanofibrous matrix and the effects of varying the concentration of hyaluronate on the characteristics of foreskin fibroblast cells

In this study we propose a novel electrospinning fabrication process for the production of a nanofibrous matrix composed of collagen and hyaluronate. This procedure utilized 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol and formic acid as a mixed solvent. Fluorescence microscopy photographs revealed that the resulting electrospun nanofibers contained both collagen and hyaluronate. The mean diameter of the composite nanofibrous matrix (as observed using scanning electron micrographs) was approximately 200 nm; this dimension is similar to that of native fibrous protein within the extracellular matrix. The expression of proteinases (e.g. matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) have been implicated in epidermal repair during wound healing. Moreover, the characteristics of scarless wounds are known to be related to a decreased ratio of TIMP to MMP expression. In the present study the ratio of expression of TIMP1 to MMP1 was lower in foreskin fibroblast cells that were cultured on a hyaluronate–collagen composite nanofibrous matrix than in those cultured on an exclusively collagen nanofibrous matrix. This indicates that the hyaluronate–collagen composite nanofibrous matrix could potentially be used as a wound dressing for the regeneration of scarless skin.