Modification and optimization of electrospun gelatin sheets by electron beam irradiation for soft tissue engineering

BACKGROUND: Crosslinked gelatin nanofibers are one of the widely used scaffolds for soft tissue engineering. However, modifying the biodegradation rate of chemically crosslinked gelatin is necessary to facilitate cell migration and tissue regeneration. Here, we investigated the optimal electron beam (e-beam) irradiation doses with biodegradation behavior on changes in the molecular weight, morphology, pore structure, and cell proliferation profiles of electrospun nanofibrous gelatin sheets. METHODS: The molecular weights of uncrosslinked gelatin nanofibers were measured using gel permeation chromatography. The morphology and pore structure of the gelatin scaffolds were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and a porosimeter. Biodegradation tests were performed in phosphate-buffered saline solutions for 4 weeks. Cell proliferation and tissue regeneration profiles were examined in fibroblasts using WST-1 assays and hematoxylin and eosin staining. RESULTS: Crosslinked gelatin nanofiber sheets exposed to e-beam irradiation over 300 kGy showed approximately 50% weight loss in 2 weeks. Gelatin scaffolds exposed to e-beam irradiation at 100–200 kGy showed significantly increased cell proliferation after 7 days of incubation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that the biodegradation and cell proliferation rates of gelatin nanofiber scaffolds could be optimized by varying e-beam irradiation doses for soft tissue engineering.