Cross-linked superfine electrospun tragacanth-based biomaterial as scaffolds for tissue engineering

Natural polymer-based nanofibrous structures promote cell adhesion and proliferation due to their high surface area/volume ratio, high porosity, and similarity to native extracellular matrix in terms of both chemical composition and physical structure. Gum tragacanth (Tg) is a natural polysaccharides obtained from plants. It is a biocompatible, biodegradable and anionic polysaccharides that has been used extensively as an emulsifier in food and pharmaceutical industries. Despite, its good rheological properties and compatibility, the potential biomedical applications of Tg have not been fully investigated. The objective of the present study was to explore the feasibility of combining Tg with gelatin to fabricate a scaffold that serves as a simple collagen-glycosaminoglycans analog for tissue engineering applications, e.g. as a scaffold for human skin epithelial cells