Electrospun sodium alginate/poly(ethylene oxide) core–shell nanofibers scaffolds potential for tissue engineering applications

► Core–shell structure nanofibers of sodium alginate/poly(ethylene oxide) were prepared via electrospinning their dispersions in water solution. ► One-step cross-linking method through CaCl2 solution was investigated to improve the anti-water property of electrospun nanofibers. ► The potential use of the as-spun core–shell nanofibers could be as a scaffolding material for tissue engineering. Core–shell structure nanofibers of sodium alginate/poly(ethylene oxide) were prepared via electrospinning their dispersions in water solution. The core–shell structure morphology of the obtained nanofibers was viewed under scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis was used to further quantify the chemical composition of the core–shell composite SA/PEO nanofibers surface in detail. Furthermore, one-step cross-linking method through being immersed in CaCl2 solution was investigated to improve the anti-water property of the electrospun nanofibers mats in order to facilitate their practical applications as tissue engineering scaffolds, and the changes of the structural of nanofibers before and after cross-linking was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). Indirect cytotoxicity assessment indicated that SA/PEO nanofibers membrane was nontoxic to the fibroblasts cells, and cell culture suggested that SA/PEO nanofibers tended to promote fibroblasts cells attachment and proliferation. It was assumed that the nanofibers membrane of electrospun SA/PEO could be used for tissue engineering scaffolds.