Date
4-2023
Project Type
URC Presentation
Department
Chemical Engineering
College or School
CEPS
Class Year
First Year
Major
Bioengineering, Electrical Engineering
Faculty Research Advisor
Linqing Li
Abstract
Electrospun nanofiber materials have emerged as promising scaffolds for cell culture and tissue engineering applications. In this study, we aimed to fabricate nanofibers using dextran-based polysaccharides and investigate their potential for cell culture. First, solutions of varying concentrations of dextran, a branched polymer of dextrose, were synthesized. These solutions were then subjected to the electrospinning process at different distances to produce nanofiber structures with varying cross-sectional widths, mimicking the fiber networks of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the body; ECM fiber widths average 0.06-0.12 µm. The resulting nanofibers were characterized for their morphology and mechanical properties. To ensure structural integrity and enhance biocompatibility, the electrospun nanofibers were crosslinked to form hydrogels. The hydrogel scaffolds were then used for dermal fibroblast cell culture to evaluate cell growth patterns and behavior on the scaffolding material. The outcomes of this research will provide insights into the electrospinning process of dextran-based polysaccharides for fabricating nanofibers, and the characterization of resulting nanofibers and hydrogels. The findings will contribute to the development of novel nanofiber-based scaffolds for cell culture applications, particularly in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.
Recommended Citation
Bartus, Andrea; Clemmons, Sabby; and Herlihy, Meghan, "Electrospinning of Dextran-Based Polysaccharide to Fabricate Nanofibers for Cell Culture " (2023). Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) Student Presentations. 559.
https://scholars.unh.edu/urc/559