3rd International Conference on Chemo and BioInformatics, Kragujevac, September 25-26. 2025. (pp. 172-175)
АУТОР(И) / AUTHOR(S): Sanja Rackov, Branka Pilić
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DOI: 10.46793/ICCBIKG25.172R
САЖЕТАК / ABSTRACT:
The inherent water solubility of pullulan, a polysaccharide with excellent biocompatibility and film-forming characteristics, severely restricts its utility in creating nanofibrous scaffolds. This study investigates the in situ crosslinking of polysaccharide pullulan with varying ratios of sodium trimetaphosphate (STMP) to obtain nanofibers with decreased water solubility. The goal was to decrease the high water solubility of pullulan, a major limitation for its use in biomedical and material science applications. Crosslinking was performed at different STMP concentrations to assess its impact on the solubility, structural characteristics, and morphology of the resulting nanofibers. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of new phosphodiester bonds, confirming the successful crosslinking of pullulan by STMP, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed smooth and uniform nanofibers with diameters in the nanometer range. Solubility tests indicated a notable reduction in water solubility as the STMP ratio increased, demonstrating the effectiveness of crosslinking in enhancing the stability of pullulan nanofibers. These findings suggest that in situ crosslinking with STMP significantly improves the solubility properties and structural integrity of pullulan nanofibers, making them suitable for diverse applications.
КЉУЧНЕ РЕЧИ / KEYWORDS:
electrospinning, biopolymers, nanotechnology
ПРОЈЕКАТ / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
This research is funded by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Republic of Serbia, Grants: No. 451-03- 136/2025-03/200134 and Provincial Secretary for High Education and Research, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Grant: No. 003060425 2024 09418 003 000 000 001 04 002
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