Layer-by-layer structured polysaccharides film-coated cellulose nanofibrous mats for cell culture

For the first time, a novel fibrous polysaccharide scaffold for cell culture was fabricated by the combination of electrospinning and electrostatic layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembly technique. Oppositely charged chitosan (CS) and alginate (ALG) in aqueous media were alternatively deposited onto the negatively charged cellulose nanofibrous mats which hydrolyzed from electrospun cellulose acetate mats. The morphology and biocompatibility of the resultant scaffolds were investigated by regulating the pH of dipping solutions, the number of deposition bilayers , and the composition of outermost layer. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images indicated that the scaffolds possessed the fibrous structure and the thickness of CS/ALG bilayer formed on fibers was estimated in the range of 8–15   nm. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results verified the existence of nitrogen element of CS on the surface of LBL films. The cell culture experiments demonstrated that the scaffolds have good biocompatibility for Beas-2B human bronchial epithelial cells in vitro.