Preparation and characterization of soluble eggshell membrane protein/PLGA electrospun nanofibers for guided tissue regeneration membrane

Abstract

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a widely used method in periodontal therapy, which involves the placement of a barrier membrane to exclude migration of epithelium and ensure repopulation of periodontal ligament cells. The objective of this study is to prepare and evaluate a new type of soluble eggshell membrane protein (SEP)/poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanofibers using electrospinning method for GTR membrane application. SEP/PLGA nanofibers were successfully prepared with various blending ratios. The morphology, chemical composition, surface wettability, and mechanical properties of the nanofibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle measurement, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and a universal testing machine. L-929 fibroblast cells were used to evaluate the biocompatibility of SEP/PLGA nanofibers and investigate the interaction between cells and nanofibers. Results showed that the SEP/PLGA electrospun membrane was composed of uniform, bead-free nanofibers, which formed an interconnected porous network structure. Mechanical property of SEP has been greatly improved by the addition of PLGA. The biological study results showed that SEP/PLGA nanofibers could enhance cell attachment, spreading, and proliferation. The study indicated the potential of SEP/PLGA nanofibers for GTR application and provided a basis for future optimization. © 2012 Jun Jia et al.