Addition of Selenium Nanoparticles to Electrospun Silk Scaffold Improves the Mammalian Cell Activity While Reducing Bacterial Growth

Chung S., Ercan B., Roy A. K., Webster T. J.

FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY, vol.7, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 7
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00297
  • Journal Name: FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Keywords: silk, electrospinning, antibacterial nanoparticles, NANOFIBROUS SCAFFOLDS, BIOFILM FORMATION, TISSUE, SKIN, FIBROIN, FIBERS, HYDROXYAPATITE, FABRICATION, DELIVERY, MATRIX
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Silk possesses many beneficial wound healing properties, and electrospun scaffolds are especially applicable for skin applications, due to their smaller interstices and higher surface areas. However, purified silk promotes microbial growth. Selenium nanoparticles have shown excellent antibacterial properties and are a novel antimicrobial chemistry. Here, electrospun silk scaffolds were doped with selenium nanoparticles to impart antibacterial properties to the silk scaffolds. Results showed significantly improved bacterial inhibition and mild improvement in human dermal fibroblast metabolic activity. These results suggest that the addition of selenium nanoparticles to electrospun silk is a promising approach to improve wound healing with reduced infection, without relying on antibiotics.