@article{1a01b6df6c2e4f3aa459e015b7a238b7,
title = "Chitin nanofibrils modulate mechanical response in tympanic membrane replacements",
abstract = "The tympanic membrane (TM), is a thin tissue lying at the intersection of the outer and the middle ear. TM perforations caused by traumas and infections often result in a conductive hearing loss. Tissue engineering has emerged as a promising approach for reconstructing the damaged TM by replicating the native material characteristics. In this regard, chitin nanofibrils (CN), a polysaccharide-derived nanomaterial, is known to exhibit excellent biocompatibility, immunomodulation and antimicrobial activity, thereby imparting essential qualities for an optimal TM regeneration. This work investigates the application of CN as a nanofiller for poly(ethylene oxide terephthalate)/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PEOT/PBT) copolymer to manufacture clinically suitable TM scaffolds using electrospinning and fused deposition modelling. The inclusion of CN within the PEOT/PBT matrix showed a three-fold reduction in the corresponding electrospun fiber diameters and demonstrated a significant improvement in the mechanical properties required for TM repair. Furthermore, in vitro biodegradation assay highlighted a favorable influence of CN in accelerating the scaffold degradation over a period of one year. Finally, the oto- and cytocompatibility response of the nanocomposite substrates corroborated their biological relevance for the reconstruction of perforated eardrums.",
keywords = "Chitin, Eardrum, Mechanical reinforcement, Nanocomposite, Polysaccharide, Tissue engineering",
author = "Shivesh Anand and Bahareh Azimi and M{\'o}nica Lucena and Claudio Ricci and Mariarita Candito and Lorenzo Zavagna and Laura Astolfi and Coltelli, {Maria Beatrice} and Andrea Lazzeri and Stefano Berrettini and Lorenzo Moroni and Serena Danti and Carlos Mota",
note = "Funding Information: Funding: This study was funded by the 4NanoEARDRM project, under the frame of EuroNanoMed III, an ERA-NET Cofund scheme of the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme of the European Commission, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO, grant number OND1365231), and the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR, grant number B56H18000140001). The Centre for Instrumentation Sharing, University of Pisa, is acknowledged for SEM analysis. Dr. Delfo D'Alessandro (University of Pisa) is kindly acknowledged for his technical support to SEM analysis. Funding Information: Funding: This study was funded by the 4NanoEARDRM project, under the frame of EuroNanoMed III, an ERA-NET Cofund scheme of the Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme of the European Commission, the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO, grant number OND1365231 ), and the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR, grant number B56H18000140001 ). The Centre for Instrumentation Sharing, University of Pisa, is acknowledged for SEM analysis. Dr. Delfo D'Alessandro (University of Pisa) is kindly acknowledged for his technical support to SEM analysis. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors",
year = "2023",
month = jun,
day = "15",
doi = "10.1016/j.carbpol.2023.120732",
language = "English",
volume = "310",
journal = "Carbohydrate Polymers",
issn = "0144-8617",
publisher = "ELSEVIER SCI LTD",
number = "1",
}