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Box‐Behnken Design a Key Tool to Achieve Optimized PCL/Gelatin Electrospun Mesh
Author(s) -
Guerreiro Sara F. C.,
Valente Joana F. A.,
Dias Juliana R.,
Alves Nuno
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.202000678
Subject(s) - materials science , nanofiber , electrospinning , gelatin , polycaprolactone , box–behnken design , biocompatibility , biomedical engineering , response surface methodology , drug delivery , composite material , nanotechnology , computer science , polymer , medicine , biochemistry , chemistry , machine learning , metallurgy
Hybrid electrospun nanofibers of polycaprolactone (PCL)/gelatin are considered as drug‐delivery systems for increasing the treatment efficacy in superficial (skin) wounds. Continuous delivery of therapeutic agents, skin extracellular matrix similarity, management of wound exudate, and antimicrobial barrier effect are the major advantages of electrospun nanofibers in skin applications. Additionally, combining the favorable properties of PCL and gelatin, regarding their biocompatibility, biodegradability and mechanical performance have been revealed promising parameters to be considered for blend in hybrid structures. However, the usual optimization protocol of nanofibers’ production in electrospinning is based on the observation of one‐variable‐at‐time being this methodology expensive and time‐consuming. Therefore, in this research work, a statistical model based on four input variables namely, the flow rate, the needle‐working distance, the applied voltage, and the ratio of PCL in the solution, is developed to predict the behavior of nanofibers. The performance of nanofibers is monitored by measurements of fiber's diameter, mesh's thickness, and mesh's permeability. Overall, the model showed to be statistically significant ( p ‐value < 0.05) and an independent analysis validated the predicted response for optimal condition. Finally, a delivery study is performed to evaluate the electrospun mesh performance as a drug carrier.