Attachment of a nitric oxide (NO) donor to an electrospun polymer has the potential to improve its proliferative and antimicrobial capabilities. This study presents the novel, covalent attachment of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) to polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers. By attaching the NO donor to the polymer, rather than blending it, leaching is reduced to maintain a NO flux within the physiologically relevant range for a longer duration, while limiting any cytotoxic effects. The synthesized fibers were characterized using a variety of techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, 1H NMR, and drop shape analysis. Due to the antimicrobial activity of NO, the SNAP-PAN fibers demonstrated a 2-log reduction of S. aureus adhesion. Furthermore, the extended zone of inhibition of S. aureus by SNAP-PAN demonstrates the ability of NO to impact the environment surrounding the material, in addition to the environment in direct contact with it. The combination of NO release, hydrophilicity of PAN, and the fibrous network led to increased fibroblast proliferation and attachment, potentially expanding the fibers as an improved cell scaffolding platform. The results from this study demonstrate a novel preparation and design of NO-releasing fibers to provide multiple benefits for a variety of biomedical applications.
Keywords: S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine; antimicrobial; cell scaffold; nanofibers; polyacrylonitrile.