Coaxially electrospun micro/nanofibrous poly(epsilon-caprolactone)/eggshell-protein scaffold.

Eggshell membrane (ESM) has potential as a natural scaffold because of its highly porous structure and good biocompatibility. To mimic its structure and surface properties, soluble eggshell membrane protein (SEP) was extracted from ESM and electrospun with a biodegradable polymer, poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL). SEP/PCL micro/nanofibers were fabricated using a coaxial electrospinning process with a dual nozzle and an auxiliary cylindrical electrode. The fiber web was characterized using the water contact angle, pore-size distribution, mechanical properties and cellular behavior. The SEP/PCL web, which demonstrated the feasibility of producing a scaffold with adequate hydrophilicity, suitable pore size and good mechanical properties compared to a pure PCL micro/nanofiber web, exhibits the ability to mimic a natural biomaterial.

Fabrication of a biocomposite reinforced with hydrophilic eggshell proteins.

Soluble eggshell proteins were used as a reinforcing material of electrospun micro/nanofibers for tissue engineering. A biocomposite composed of poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) micro/nanofibers and soluble eggshell protein was fabricated with a two-step fabrication method, which is an electrospinning process followed by an air-spraying process. To achieve a stable electrospinning process, we used an auxiliary cylindrical electrode connected with a spinning nozzle. PCL biocomposite was characterized in water contact angle and mechanical properties as well as cell proliferation for its application as a tissue engineering material. It showed an improved hydrophilic characteristic compared with that of a micro/nanofiber web generated from a pure PCL solution using a typical electrospinning process. Moreover, the fabricated biocomposite had good mechanical properties compared to a typical electrospun micro/nanofiber mat. The fabricated biocomposite made human dermal fibroblasts grow better than pure PCL. From the results, the reinforced polymeric micro/nanofiber scaffold can be easily achieved with these modified processes.