Effect of sol-gel synthesized MgTi2O5 nanoparticles on physicomechanical properties and cell toxicity of chitosan/arginine core-shell nanofibrous composites.

In this study, magnesium dititanate nanoparticles (MgTi₂O₅-NPs) with an average particle size of 15 nm were synthesized via a combination of sol-gel and ultrasonic methods. These nanoparticles were then incorporated into chitosan-poly(ethylene oxide)-arginine (CS-PEO-Arg) scaffolds using single-jet, co-electrospinning, and coaxial electrospinning techniques to produce various nanofibrous composites. The inclusion of 5 wt% MgTi₂O₅-NPs significantly reduced the average fiber diameter from 874.2 nm (pristine polymer) to 88.1 nm (blended nanocomposite). Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that core-shell nanofibers, with NPs encapsulated in the core, exhibited enhanced thermal stability compared to other samples. Beside an appropriate hydrophilicity for wound healing (water contact angle of 61.4°), the mechanical properties were markedly improved in the core-shell architecture, which demonstrated an exceptional tensile strength of approximately 200 MPa and a strain at break over 95 %, far exceeding the pristine polymer fibers (28.8 MPa). Furthermore, MTT assays on L929 fibroblast cells confirmed high cytocompatibility for all scaffolds, with cell viability exceeding 90 %. Notably, the core-shell nanocomposite maintained cell viability nearly identical to the NP-free control, underscoring the effectiveness of the core-shell design in mitigating potential cytotoxicity. These results highlight the potential of engineering core-shell CS-PEO-Arg/MgTi₂O₅ nanofibers as robust and biocompatible materials for advanced wound healing applications.