Surface functionalization of chitosan nanoparticles with PCL Chains: Preparation of hybrid polyurethane electrospun nanofibers for shape memory-assisted biomedical application

Nowadays, smart materials that provide different properties and functionalities in a single system are of great importance. Herein, polycaprolactone-grafted chitosan nanoparticles (PCL-grafted NCPs)/hydroxyapatite/polyurethane hybrid electrospun nanofibers were prepared via the electrospinning method. Chitosan NPs were prepared via the ionic gelation method and then, were modified via PCL chains by the in-situ ring-opening polymerization. The nanocomposites were prepared via the solution casting method using shape memory PU as the matrix. The presence of chemically linked PCL chains on the PCL-grafted CNPs could provide high interactions with PU chains which improved mechanical and shape memory properties of the nanofibers. Moreover, the presence of HA nanoparticles in the electrospun scaffolds could significantly enhance the bioactivity of the nanofibers due to the synergetic effects of PCL-grafted CNPs and HA nanoparticles. These results showed that the combination of shape memory properties and improved bioactivity of the nanofibers could be utilized in different shape memory-assisted biomedical applications, including wound dressing and bone regeneration applications.