Gelatin-crosslinked pectin nanofiber mats allowing cell infiltration

Pectin nanofiber mats are promising tissue engineering scaffolds but suffer from poor cell infiltration. In this study, gelatin, a collagen derived cell adhesive protein, was used to crosslink the electrospun nanofibers of periodate oxidized pectin. Cell culture experiment results demonstrated that cells were able to grow into the gelatin-crosslinked pectin nanofiber mats rather than only spread on mat surface. The nanofiber mats showed moderate mechanical strength, with a maximum tensile strength of up to 2.3 MPa, an ultimate tensile strain of up to 15%, and were capable of degrading gradually over 4 weeks or even longer periods in simulated body fluids. Thus, gelatin-crosslinked pectin nanofiber mats hold a great potential for soft tissue regeneration.