A study on hybrid nanofiber and lanolin structures

Abstract

The scientific and medical communities are showing a growing interest in tissue engineering as a means to solve issues regarding donor tissues, wound healing and drug delivery systems. Nanofibers are gaining quite a lot of relevance in this pursuit as their excellent mechanical properties and morphological similarities to the extracellular matrix of skin make them an ideal component. This project has explored how closely hybrid structures created with a combination of PLA nanofiber membranes and lanolin could imitate the human skin, with a special emphasis on achieving a similar permeability. Tests were done with an Optical Tensiometer, Electro Kinetic Analyzer and a Franz Cell. The results have shown that a perfect sandwich hybrid structure, alternating a PLA nanofiber membrane with a layer of lanolin, had a transpirability of 5,63 g/(m2 ·h), which is within the range of human skin transpirability values; 2,3 to 44 g/(m2 ·h)