A series of ultrafine polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/graphene oxide (GO) nanofibrous scaffolds (PGNSs) with different GO content (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0%) was fabricated via an electrospinning process. The morphology, composition, mechanical behavior, surface wettability and protein adsorptivity of these scaffolds were investigated. The results showed that the diameter of the nanofibers in the PGNSs was 230 ± 68, 197 ± 46, 188 ± 38 or 164 ± 54 nm when the GO content in the scaffolds was 0, 0.25, 0.5 or 1.0%, respectively. The ATR-Fourier transform infrared spectra, Raman spectra, and X-ray diffraction results revealed the successful introduction of GO into the PVA matrix. Mechanical testing indicated that GO increased the tensile strength while reducing the ductility of the scaffolds. The biological properties of the scaffolds were evaluated by water contact angle measurements, protein adsorption assays, hemolysis ratio testing, cell co-culturing and in vivo skin repair in animal models. The results showed that the GO-modified scaffolds had favorable hydrophilicity and enhanced protein-enrichment ability. No visible hemolysis was observed for any of the scaffolds. Cellular behavior on the scaffolds revealed that the PGNSs were suitable for the growth and adhesion of L929 fibroblasts. Moreover, the PGNS containing a 0.25% GO content was the most suitable scaffold for cell viability and adhesion. In vivo wound repair assessments showed that the wound contraction rate when treated by the PGNS containing a 0.25% GO content exceeded 90% within 9 days, suggesting excellent potential of the PGNS for skin tissue engineering.

Multichannel nerve guide conduits (MCNGCs) have been widely studied and exhibited outstanding nerve repair function. However, the effect of the geometric structure of MCNGCs on the nerve repair function was still not clear. Herein, we postulated that MCNGCs with different inner surface area-to-volume ratios (ISA/V) of the channels inside the nerve guide conduits (NGCs) would show different nerve repair functions. Therefore, in current work, we constructed a series of hydroxyethyl cellulose/soy protein sponge-based nerve conduit (HSSN) with low, medium, and high ISA/V from hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC)/soy protein isolate (SPI) composite sponges, which were abbreviated as HSSN-L, HSSN-M and HSSN-H, respectively. These NGCs were applied to bridge and repair a 10 mm long sciatic nerve defect in a rat model. Finally, the influence of ISA/V on nerve repair function was evaluated by electrophysiological assessment, histological investigation, and in vivo biodegradability testing. The results of electrophysiological assessment and histological investigation showed that the regenerative nerve tissues bridged with HSSN-H and HSSN-M had higher compound muscle action potential amplitude ratio, higher percentage of positive NF200 and S100 staining, larger axon diameter, lower G-ratio, and greater myelination thickness. Furthermore, the regenerative nerve tissues bridged with HSSN-H also showed higher density of regenerated myelinated nerve fibers and more number of myelin sheath layers. On the whole, the repair efficiency of the peripheral nerve in HSSN-H and HSSN-M groups might be better than that in HSSN-L. These results indicated that higher ISA/V based on HEC/SPI composite sponge may result in greater nerve repair functions. The conclusion provided a probable guiding principle for the structural designs of NGCs in the future.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome with high mortality, which results from severe infection and can lead to secondary organ dysfunction. It is one of the most common cause of death in intensive care unit. Clinical reports have shown