A master’s student, Tiba Y. Jassem, defended her thesis “Preparation and Characterization of a Polymeric Scaffold Used for Skin Substitution” on Thursday, January 9^th, at the conference room (C), Department of Materials Engineering, University of Technology. The Committee members included:

The dissertation was scientifically evaluated by Prof. Dr. Khaled M. Owaid, Al-Mustansiriyah University, College of Engineering, Department of Materials Engineering, and linguistically by Mayada R. Issa, University of Technology, English Language Center.

The discussion was conducted in a scientific atmosphere and a master's degree with grade of pass was awarded to the student after the completion of all the corrections that have been decided by the examiners.

Abstract

Burns and skin necrosis is considered one of the major problems faced in the medical field and a lot of researches are focusing on developing tissues as substitutes for damaged skin using many fabrication methods. Electrospinning is one of the most important fabrication methods used for scaffold preparation, by providing fibrous structure which enhances cell adhesion through the high surface area to volume ratio. Besides, the porous structure with open porosity will allow the cells to penetrate to form a 3-D tissue. In this study, the mechanical properties (tensile strength), wettability, cytotoxicity% and Rat Embryonic Fibroblast REF cells proliferation of electrospun pure polyurethane PU scaffold in a concentration of 10% w/v were improved by blending polyurethane with chitosan. This natural material will enhance the cell adhesion since it is a hydrophilic material. Blending polyurethane with chitosan highly increased the tensile strength of the prepared scaffolds. The first specimen with ratio [1:6] [chitosan:PU] revealed medium increase in the modulus of elasticity but with non-uniform fibrous structure. Increasing the ratio of polyurethane to chitosan in other specimens [1:10] and [1:20] [chitosan:PU], highly increased the modulus of elasticity of pure polyurethane from 1.518 Mpa to 12.99 and 12.81 Mpa respectively with more uniform fibrous structure.

Moreover, the wettability of the electrospun fibrous structures is highly related with the average fiber diameter, it is decreased with decreasing fiber diameter since it becomes hydrophobic. Adding chitosan to PU will increase the wettability% because of the primary amine NH2 and OH functional groups. The best wettability% noticed in [1:6] and [1:20] blend scaffolds.

Cytotoxicity % decreased with adding chitosan to PU especially in [1:10] and [1:20] blend scaffolds, because adding natural material (chitosan) with the synthetic material will enhance the biocompatibility and increase the number of viable cells. Best REF cells proliferation was also notices in [1:10] and [1:20]

blend scaffolds

Assist. Prof. Dr. Jawad Kadhim Oliwi, Assist. Prof.Dr. Qahtan Adnan Hamad, Assist. Prof. Dr. Mayada Shanan Abd / Department of Materials Engineering / University of Technology participated as lecturers in the scientific seminar entitled "Engineering materials and their applications in the medical field" held by the University College of Isra / Department of Dentistry on Wednesday, 18/12/2019. Assist. Prof. Dr. Jawad Kadhim Oliwi, Assist. Prof.Dr. Qahtan Adnan Hamad are delivered a lecture of "Medical Applications of Polymer and Composite Materials"

Where the two lecturers discussed the importance of polymeric and composite materials in the medical field, including their use in the manufacture and dental implants, as well as in most parts of the body, such as the manufacture of prosthetics, cartilage, tendons, knee joint, hip joint, cartilage of the vertebrae of the spine, and replacement for damaged tissues.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mayada Shanan Abd delivered a lecture of "Green Sythesis of Nanoparticles for Medical Applications" where the lecturer discussed the concept of green industry and its role in preserving the environment, energy sources and public health. The green industry aims to limit or reduce a large extent of dangerous chemical materials accompanying any industry or technology, and this can be done using materials or manufacturing methods or technology or a friendly design for the environment. The lecture also mentioned the many applications of these materials in daily life and popular as realistic products such as antibiotics and sterile air filters using nanoscale silver or drinking water filters, anti-bacterial clothing and auxiliary drugs to treat cancer patients.