High Protein Content Nanofibers as Novel Platforms for Antibody and Antimicrobial Peptide Loading

Abstract

The desirable characteristics of nanomaterials, such as nanofibers (NFs), make them suitable for implementation in biomedical applications. Concerning the material used for NF synthesis, proteins may offer advantages, as they present properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, or intrinsic functions. However, it can pose a challenge due to the possibility of their degradation or denaturation. For this reason, it is often necessary to blend with other natural or synthetic polymers to enhance these properties. The integration of bioactive compounds into protein NFs can provide additional benefits, enabling biological functions with potential for various applications. Therefore, this study aimed to fabricate electrospun NFs with high content of one of two model proteins (BSA or LYZ) using polyethylene oxide (PEO) as copolymer. After optimization, small quantities of the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) piscidin (PIS) or the antibody (Ab) horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-conjugated Anti-Mouse IgG were added as a proof of concept.