Abstract

Due to the competitive advantage of high surface area and biodegradability, the electrospun nanofiber yarns (NYs) have recently attracted considerable attention in the field of biomedical textiles and tissue engineering. In this work, we proposed a synergistic strategy combining of electrospinning and thermal-stretching to develop highly aligned poly( l -lactide- co -ε-caprolactone)/zinc oxide (PLCL/ZnO) NYs with enhanced bioabsorbability and extracellular matrix (ECM) mimicking characteristics. The addition of ZnO significantly enhances the antibacterial properties and hemostasis function of the PLCL/ZnO NYs by providing sustained ion release and surface activity, while maintaining a homogeneous nanoparticle distribution without inducing aggregation or compromising fiber morphology. Owning to the presence of ZnO, the PLCL/ZnO NYs exhibit increased crystallinity, excellent antibacterial performance against both Gram-positive (~95%) and Gram-negative bacteria (~94%), as well as improved hemocompatibility. Furthermore, experiment results from the in vitro cell characterization and cell adhesion test illustrated that 0.5% ratios of ZnO could improve the biological performance and promote cell adhesion. Molecular docking simulations further demonstrated that ZnO not only is effective in inhibiting bacteria but also poses no adverse effects on cell proliferation. Overall, the stable mechanical properties, strong antibacterial performance, favorable blood compatibility, and enhanced cellular responses indicate that the developed PLCL/ZnO-0.5 NYs exhibited structural and functional characteristics relevant to bioabsorbable scaffolds for tissue engineering and biomedical applications.