Immobilizing natural macromolecule on PLGA electrospun nanofiber with surface entrapment and entrapment-graft techniques

Surface entrapment is a convenient method to immobilize the natural macromolecules on the surface of synthetic polymers. In this study, the gelatin modified and sodium alginate/gelatin modified PLGA nanofibrous membranes were fabricated via surface entrapment and entrapment-graft techniques. The surface morphology of the each single modified PLGA nanofiber was as smooth as that of untreated PLGA nanofibers. The results of water angle contact measurements and tensile tests showed that the surface entrapment cannot only improve the hydrophilicity but also enhance mechanical properties of the modified nanofibrous membranes. In addition, the sodium alginate/gelatin modified electrospun PLGA nanofibrous membrane exhibited higher hydrophilicity and better biocompatibility than the simply gelatin modified PLGA nanofibrous membrane, which suggested the surface entrapment is a facile and efficient approach to surface modification for electrospun nanofibours membranes.

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► The gelatin modified PLGA and sodium alginate/gelatin modified PLGA nanofibrous membranes were fabricated through surface entrapment and entrapment-graft treatment.
► Both gelatin modified PLGA and sodium alginate/gelatin modified PLGA nanofibrous membranes have not only enhanced the hydrophilicity but also improved mechanical properties.
► The sodium alginate/gelatin modified electrospun PLGA nanofibrous membrane exhibited better hydrophilicity and biocompatibility than the simple gelatin modified PLGA nanofibrous membrane.