Study on the Preparation and Properties of MT-GE (6S-5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Calcium Salt Crystal Form C-Gelatin) Nanofiber Membrane

Folate is an essential vitamin associated with protein and DNA synthesis in the body. Compared with synthetic folic acid, 6S-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium salt crystal form C (MTHF CAC) is safer and has a higher bioavailability. In this study, a nanofiber membrane (MT-GE) was prepared from fish gelatin and MTHF CAC in the aqueous system via electrospinning. Differential scanning calorimetry showed higher transition temperatures for MT-GE than for GE. The weight loss curve of MT-GE detected by thermogravimetric analysis was higher than that of GE. The results corresponded to those of X-ray diffraction, which indicated the slightly higher crystalline strength of MT-GE than GE. Therefore, the inclusion of MTHF CAC improved the physical characteristics of GE nanofibers. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that the retention of MTHF CAC in MT-GE reached 85.57%, which suggested that electrospinning caused no effect on the properties of MTHF CAC. The MT-GE membrane supported cell proliferation, and the Cell Counting Kit-8 results indicated that the cell proliferation rate exceeded 100%, with the MT-GE solution demonstrating more than double the proliferation rate of the control group. Therefore, MT-GE has great potential for use as a medical biomaterial.