Ewa Kijeńska-Gawrońska

Warsaw University of Technology · Centre for Advanced Materials and Technologies CEZAMAT

In this study, two-layer poly(vinyl alcohol)/gelatin (PVA/GEL) nanofiber patches containing cinnamaldehyde (CA) in the first layer and gentamicin (GEN) in the second layer were produced by the electrospinning method. The morphology, chemical structures, and thermal temperatures of the produced pure (PVA/GEL), CA-loaded (PVA/GEL/CA), GEN-loaded (PVA...

In recent years, fiber-based systems have been explored in the frame of tissue engineering due to their robustness in recapitulating the architecture and mechanical properties of native tissues. Such scaffolds offer anisotropic architecture capable of reproducing the native collagen fibers’ orientation and distribution. Moreover, fibrous constructs...

Corneal ulcer, which is brought on by a breach in the epithelial barrier, is a dangerous infection of the avascular corneal stroma. New treatment strategies are needed, suppressing the aggressive nature of the disease and including a combination of different drugs. In this study, vancomycin (VAN) and fluconazole (FLU) dual‐drug loaded dual‐layered...

In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), gelatin (GEL) and gentamicin (GEN) were used and 13PVA/0.5GEL/GEN nanofibers were fabricated with the electrospinning method. These nanofibers were crosslinked chemically with glutaraldehyde (GA) at different time intervals (2, 3, 4, 5, 5.5 and 6 h) to observe the crosslinking effect on the properties of the...

The applicability of model polydiacetylenes as chromoionophores in hydrogen ions sensitive optodes was tested. Nanofibers mats were electrospun using a mixture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polycaprolactone (PCL) together with 10, 12–tricosadiynoic acid or 10,12‐pentacosadiynoic acid. As the pH increases, the color of the fiber mat changes from b...

Fibrous shape memory scaffolds composed of thermoplastic polyurethane based on a mixture of polycaprolactone diols were fabricated. The effect of the fiber diameter and arrangement– random (rPU) or aligned (aPU), on crystallinity, mechanical properties, and shape memory was analyzed. The diameters of the fibers were controlled by changing the conce...

Nanofibers mats, prepared from poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) containing dispersed dye Nile red (NR) were applied in a proof of concept study as optical sensors for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) dispersed in an aqueous phase. Benefiting from the solubility of the dye, and in some cases, also of the polymer in model solvents belonging to the group o...

This work offers the approach to exploit simple and cost-effective low-temperature annealing treatment to simultaneously enhance of hardness, corrosion and biological response of the ultra-fine grained commercially pure titanium (UFG CP-Ti) fabricated by multiple-pass cold rolling technique. Performed investigations revealed that improvement of all...

Background The development of tissue-engineered scaffolds with electrical properties is the primary motivation of novel regenerative medicine. Electroconductive scaffolds are designed to mimic the injured tissue environment's electrical properties and regulate cellular behavior - growth, proliferation, and differentiation - that could stimulate the...

Plastic materials are one of the significant components of construction materials omnipresent in all areas of the industry and everyday life. One of these plastics is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Due to its processing properties, with a simultaneous low production cost, PET has been used in many industrial applications, including the productio...

Fungal keratitis is a severe corneal infection that causes irreversible damage to the cornea, for which conventional drug treatments may be insufficient. With the new generation of drug delivery systems, it is desired to ensure the ocular usability of drugs. In this study, two-layer polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin (PVA/GEL) nanofibers with high drug...

For an efficient diagnostic, modern biosensing systems require miniaturization of portable electronic devices, should be high sensitivity to achieve detection at a low level, high specificity to the targeted molecule, and ease of operation. To address some of such tasks, this research demonstrates the fabrication of an electrochemically reduced gra...

In this work, NiTi alloy parts were fabricated using laser powder bed fusion (LBPF) from pre-alloyed NiTi powder and in situ alloyed pure Ni and Ti powders. Comparative research on the corrosive and biological properties of both studied materials was performed. Electrochemical corrosion tests were carried out in phosphate buffered saline at 37 °C,...

Graphene and its derivatives have attracted scientists’ interest due to their exceptional properties, making them alluring candidates for multiple applications. However, still little is known about the properties of as-obtained graphene derivatives during long-term storage. The aim of this study was to check whether or not 14 months of storage time...

This research presents an electrochemical immunosensor for collagen I detection using a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and covalently immobilized half-reduced monoclonal antibody as a receptor; this allowed for the validation of the collagen I concentration through two different independent methods: electrochemically b...

This paper demonstrates a novel hi-resolution microscopy-assisted computational approach to mechanical modeling of ultrafine electrospun networks (ESN). Morphological data extracted from X-ray microtomography (μCT) of ESN made of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), supplemented by data acquired from the nanoscale flexural test of a single fiber,...

The aim was to examine the efficiency of a scaffold made of poly (L-lactic acid)-co-poly(ϵ-caprolactone), collagen (COL), polyaniline (PANI), and enriched with adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) as a nerve conduit in a rat model. P(LLA-CL)-COL-PANI scaffold was optimized and electrospun into a tubular-shaped structure. Adipose tissue from 10 Lewis r...

Tendon and ligament injuries caused by trauma and degenerative diseases are frequent and affect diverse groups of the population. Such injuries reduce musculoskeletal performance, limit joint mobility, and lower people's comfort. Currently, various treatment strategies and surgical procedures are used to heal, repair, and restore the native tissue...

Electrospun materials, due to the possibility of design of their properties, are suitable as supports for enzyme immobilization. Produced biocatalytic systems might be then apply in various biocatalytic reactions, including conversion of pollutants. In our study, electrospun fibers made from nylon 6 was produced, modified and applied as a support f...

Properly prepared substrate for cell culturing is a crucial factor to maintain good viability and proliferation of the cells. Graphene oxide (GO), due to its physicochemical properties, can be easily modified with biomolecules, which enable the interaction with different types of cells. Moreover, highly hydrophilic GO flakes itself can provide good...

Despite many studies concerning dyes decolourisation, we propose a novel, cheap, eco-friendly and sustainable solution for highly effective dyes removal based on electrospun materials and immobilised enzyme. Our study provides proof-of-concept for the immobilisation of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) on polyamide 6 electrospun fibres by adsorption and...

Background: Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) are trauma with severe squeals for patients’ quality of life. Currently, the gold standard of nerve reconstruction relies on primary coaptation. However, in case of a nerve gap, a reconstructive material for bridging is needed. Nerve conduits are an increasingly popular solution alternative to autografts...

Integration of multiple features including shape memory, biodegradation, and sustained drug delivery in a single material offers the opportunity to significantly improve the abilities of implantable devices for cardiovascular system regeneration. Two types of shape memory polyurethanes (SMPUs): PU-PLGA and PU-PLLA/PEG differing in soft segments com...

The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plastic deformation on the biological behaviour of novel Ti-29Nb-13Ta-4.6Zr alloy and to compare it with microcrystalline α titanium, commonly used in medicine. A multiple-stage cold rolling process was applied to improve both the mechanical and functional properties in a TNTZ alloy. A sys...

This study proposes Direct Laser Interference Lithography as a highly suitable technique for functionalization titanium surfaces for biomedical applications. DLIL was employed to produce periodic patterns on titanium after two commonly used surface treatments of implantable devices (shot peening and acid etching). The biomedical potential of the pr...

Novel electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate)/polyaniline electrospun fibres were produced, characterised, modified, and used as a support for laccase immobilisation by two methods: adsorption and covalent binding. Effective deposition of laccase by both methods was confirmed by FTIR and CLSM results. Nevertheless, the main objective of the study was...

Poly(2-oxazoline) (POx) matrices in the form of non-woven fibrous mats and three-dimensional moulds were obtained by electrospinning and fused deposition modelling (FDM), respectively. To obtain these materials, poly(2-isopropyl-2-oxazoline) (PiPrOx) and gradient copolymers of 2-isopropyl- with 2-n-propyl-2-oxazoline (P(iPrOx-nPrOx)), with relative...

Biodegradable electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications have been extensively studied as they can provide attractive open-worked architecture resembling natural extracellular matrix, with tunable physical and mechanical properties enhancing positive cellular response. For this purpose, electrospun mats were tested i...

In the presented study poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and magnetite nanoparticles were used to prepare novel PMMA/Fe3O4 electrospun nanofibers. The obtained materials were characterized, and then modified and used as supports for covalent binding and encapsulation of laccase from Trametes versicolor. High enzyme loading (63.2 mg of laccase per 1...

Providing topographical cues along with chemical and biological factors is essential for biomimetic scaffolds applied in nerve tissue engineering. The aim of presented work was to study synergistic effect of the surface’s topography and biological stimulation using nerve growth factor (NGF), on the behavior of neuronal stem cells. Three types of sc...

One promising strategy to reconstruct osteochondral defects relies on 3D bioprinted three-zonal structures comprised of hyaline cartilage, calcified cartilage, and subchondral bone. So far, several studies have pursued the regeneration of either hyaline cartilage or bone in vitro while - despite its key role in the osteochondral region - only few o...

Enzymatic biodegradation of pharmaceuticals, using enzymes such as laccase, is a green solution for the removal of toxic pollutants that has attracted growing interest over recent years. Moreover, the application of immobilized biocatalysts is relevant for industrial applications, due to the improved stability and reusability of the immobilized enz...

Tendon injuries are frequent and occur in the elderly, young, and athletic populations. The inadequate number of donors combined with many challenges associated with autografts, allografts, xenografts, and prosthetic devices have added to the value of engineering biological substitutes; which can be implanted to repair the damaged tendons. Electros...

In articule number 1801218 by Wojciech Swieszkowski and co‐workers, highly aligned cell‐laden hydrogel yarns are collected on a rotating drum using a novel wet spinning strategy. Cells encapsulated into the hydrogel fibers elongate in the direction of the fiber axis, unraveling the potential of the proposed platform for tendon tissue engineering.

The detection and monitoring of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood is an important strategy for early cancer evidence, analysis, monitoring of therapeutic response, and optimization of cancer therapy treatments. In this work, tailor-made membranes (MBSP) for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based analysis, which permitted the separat...

Fiber‐based approaches hold great promise for tendon tissue engineering enabling the possibility of manufacturing aligned hydrogel filaments that can guide collagen fiber orientation, thereby providing a biomimetic micro‐environment for cell attachment, orientation, migration, and proliferation. In this study, a 3D system composed of cell‐laden, hi...

Tissue engineering holds great potential in the production of functional substitutes to restore, maintain or improve the functionality in defective or lost tissues. So far, a great variety of techniques and approaches for fabrication of the scaffolds have been developed and evaluated, allowing researchers to tailor precisely the morphological, chem...

Electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds are willingly used in tissue engineering applications due to their tunable mechanical, chemical and physical properties. Additionally, their complex openworked architecture is similar to the native extracellular matrix of living tissue. After implantation such scaffolds should provide sufficient mechanical support...

The aim of the chapter entitled: “General requirements of electrospun materials for tissue engineering: Setups and strategy for successful electrospinning in laboratory and industry” is to introduce some of the basic aspects of the use of electrospinning processes for tissue engineering (TE) applications. The similarity of the nanofibers to the nat...

Biodegradable polymeric fibers with nanoand submicron diameters, produced by electrospinning can be used as scaffolds in tissue engineering. It is necessary to characterize their mechanical properties especially at the nanoscale. The Force Spectroscopy is suitable atomic force microscopy mode, which allows to probe mechanical properties of the mate...

Nano-engineered biodegradable constructs based on synthetic and natural polymers enriched with hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles, have been found to mimic the extracellular matrix of bone tissue. The main objective of this study was to create bio-composite nanostructured scaffolds, by incorporating collagen and HA nanoparticles into poly(L-lactic a...

The ability of cells to sense various cues present within their natural habitat gives a tremendous opportunity to steer their fate in vitro within artificial matrices (scaffolds). However, the variety of signals and their chemical and physical origin makes engineering of the scaffolds quite challenging and requires careful design in order to obtain...

Producing and characterizing PCL/PA6 three dimensional nanofibrous scaffolds for tendons and ligaments regeneration Chiara Rinoldi ¹, Ewa Kijeńska ¹ and Wojciech Swieszkowski ¹ • 1 Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, Poland Regenerative medicine is an interdisciplinary field that applies the principles o...

NOVELTY - A microsystem comprises three tiles such as upper plate, central panel and lower plate, microstructures for placing cells, central shallow polymer having membrane with holes form a matrix and lower plate of polymer, polymer nanofibers, and two tiles polymer matrix forming polymer and three tiles, where the three tiles are disposed inside...

Biodegradable polymeric fibers with nano and submicron diameters, produced by electrospinning can be used as scaffolds in tissue engineering. However is necessary to characterize their mechanical properties especially at the nanoscale. The PeakForce Quantitative NanoMechanics (PF-QNM) is recently developed AFM mode, which allows to probe mechanical...

One of the biggest challenges in peripheral nerve tissue engineering is to create an artificial nerve graft that could mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) and assist in nerve regeneration. Bio-composite nanofibrous scaffolds made from synthetic and natural polymeric blends provide suitable substrate for tissue engineering and it can be used as ner...

Elektrospun poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) fibers with high surface area to volume ratio were investigated to evaluate their potentional applications for biomedical devices and drug delivery carriers. This study is focused on gentamicin sulfate (GS) release profiles for 240 hours time period in an environment simulating body fluids (phosphate-buffered solu...

The aim of the study was to develop a method of surface modification of steel AISI 316L to improve polymeric coatings adhesion. Two methods were used: etching by solution of H 2SO 4 and H 2O 2 "piranha" and cathodic sputtering. The change of the surface topography and chemical composition were analyzed using optical profilometer and scanning electr...

The objective of this study was to investigate and to better understand the properties of buccal mucosa as a semipermeable membrane and a portal for drug administration by iontophoretic and electroosmotic means. In vitro experiments showed that buccal mucosa at the pH of about 7.4 behaved as a cation-exchange membrane and non-linear resistor. It ha...