FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ELECTROSPUN PLLA/COLLAGEN NANOFIBROUS SCAFFOLD COATED WITH CHITOSAN TO SUSTAIN RELEASE OF ALOE VERA GEL FOR SKIN TISSUE ENGINEERING

Background and aim: Healing of fire-induced wounds has been still a challenge in clinical issues. The aim of this study was to fabricate a nano fibrous poly (L-lactic acid)/collagen (PLLA/COL) scaffold with sustained release of aloe vera (AV) gel using a chitosan (CT)-coated layer for skin tissue engineering applications. Material and methods: Morphology, porosity, tensile strength, hydrophilicity, degradation rate, water vapor permeability and water uptake ratio of the scaffold were characterized. The behaviors of mouse fibroblasts (L929) were evaluated on the scaffold. Results: We observed that although the porosity of the scaffold was decreased, other characteristics were enhanced by coating a CT layer. The scaffold supports attachment, viability and proliferation of mouse fibroblasts. Conclusion: Consequently, the PLLA/COL scaffold coated with CT for sustained release of AV gel can be considered as a desirable scaffold for skin tissue engineering.