Effect of Tetrapropylammonium Chloride Quaternary Ammonium Salt on Characterization, Cytotoxicity, and Antibacterial Properties of PLA/PEG Electrospun Mat

ABSTRACT In this study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA)–tetrapropylammonium chloride (TCL)–poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) nonwoven networks were produced using PLA, PEG with different concentrations (3, 5, 7, and 9 wt%), and TCL. PEG is included as a plasticizer in PLA polymer, which has high biocompatibility but a brittle structure. The importance of this study is to investigate the effect of TCL salt on the characterization of PLA–PEG nanofibers. For this research, the cytotoxicity test system responsible for the fibroblast cell line (L929) was evaluated with the liquid absorption capacity (LAC) and drying time tests for its use in wound dressings. The addition of TCL salt reduced bead formation in PLA–PEG nanofibers and increased the homogeneity of fiber dispersion. The smoothest and most homogeneous nonwoven networks were obtained as PLA–5TCL–PEG. It was also reported that this nonwoven network exhibited liquid absorption behavior with a maximum increase of 150% compared to the PLA–PEG nonwoven network and had the highest Young's modulus value of 12.97 MPa. In addition to these tests, evaluations were made with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), drying time test, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical tests. In addition, high cell viability was observed in L292 mouse fibroblast cells at the end of the 24th hour, again with the effect of TCL salt. In addition, antibacterial activity was tested against gram‐negative E. coli and gram‐positive S. aureus bacteria, and it was observed that there was no antibacterial activity. Since PLA–TCL–PEG nonwoven webs have a maximum cell viability of 133.27%, they are recommended as a potential dermal wound dressing.