ETElçin Tören

Elçin Tören

*This is an algorithmically generated author record based on publicly available information.

Current Organizations / Institutes

The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article


Elçin Tören has a total of 12 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:


Latest Publications

  • Open Access

    Water-Based Electrospun HC/PVA/CA Nanofibers for Wound Healing Applications: A Sustainable Strategy for Cell-Proliferative and Antibacterial Functionality

    by Elçin Tören, Jakub Wiener

    This study presents an eco-friendly approach for developing advanced wound-dressing materials composed of hydrolyzed collagen (HC), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and a triterpene-rich extract from Centella asiatica (CA). HC/PVA nanofibers were fabricated via needle-free electrospinning using water as a green solvent, followed by glutaraldehyde vapour crosslinking. The incorporation of CA extract (1–7% w/v) significantly influenced fiber morphology and biological functionality. Comprehensive characterization, including SEM, FTIR, rheological analysis, and mechanical testing, revealed systematic modifications of the polymer matrix properties with CA integration. Mechanical testing demonstrated optimal performance at 3% CA, with a tensile strength of 4.82 ± 0.34 MPa and Young’s modulus of 142.5 ± 12.3 MPa. In vitro cell studies demonstrated that 1–3% CA concentrations significantly enhanced fibroblast adhesion and proliferation (with a 142.3 ± 8.5% increase in viability at day 7) as well as collagen synthesis (a 238.5 ± 15.2% increase relative to the control). Antibacterial disc diffusion tests demonstrated effective inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus (14.2 ± 1.1 mm at 5% CA) and Escherichia coli (12.8 ± 0.9 mm at 5% CA). These results indicate that HC/PVA/CA nanofibers represent a sustainable multifunctional platform for advanced wound care applications.


  • Open Access

    A Comparative Study on the Spinnability of Collagen/Pullulan Nanofibers Dissolved in Water as a Green Solvent Using Needle vs. Needle-Free Electrospinning Techniques

    by Elçin Tören, Jakub Wiener

    This study investigates electrospinning methodologies using distilled water as an environmentally friendly and non-toxic solvent for fabricating nanofibers composed of fish collagen (COL) and pullulan (PUL). The underlying hypothesis is that incorporating PUL will enhance the spinnability of the electrospun solution through the formation of hydrogen bonds with COL, thereby facilitating improved fiber development within an aqueous system. This study examined the interactions between COL and PUL molecules, focusing on hydrogen bonding and the consequential alterations in secondary structural conformation, to elucidate their effects on the spinnability and stability of COL in water-based solutions. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the advantages of needle-free electrospinning, which enables the efficient production of nanofibers and offers scalability potential for industrial applications. The architecture and properties of the resultant ultra-thin COL/PUL fibers were comprehensively characterized, underscoring their suitability for various biomedical applications. The development of PUL-based skin nanofibers represents a significant advancement in the field of biomaterials, offering a biocompatible and biodegradable alternative for dermatological applications, including skin regeneration, wound healing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and cosmetic science. The benefits of needle-free electrospinning, such as enhanced production efficiency and scalability, are particularly emphasized, demonstrating its potential for the large-scale commercial manufacturing of biocompatible nanofibers. This study aimed to address the research gap regarding the use of distilled water as an eco-friendly and safe solvent for electrospinning nanofibers made from collagen and pullulan. This study aimed to investigate the unexplored potential of distilled water for this application.


  • ELECTROSPUN SILK FIBROIN/GRAPHENE NANOFIBERS FUNCTIONALIZED WITH PHOTOSENSITIVE PORPHYRINS: AN ADVANCED BACTERICIDAL PLATFORM FOR TISSUE REGENERATION

    by Elçin Tören, Sevda Altaş

    Graphene oxide (GO)functionalised with meso-tetrakis(N-methyl pyridinium-four-yl) porphyrin (TMP) electrospun nanofibers silk fibroin (SF) resulted in a wound recovery and tissue regeneration dual functional platform. The combination of TMP into SF/GOmatrix improves mechanical properties and possesses antibacterial activity and biocompatibility. As revealed through mechanical testing, as TMP concentration was increased, the Young's Modulus improved, as exhibited by SF/GO/TMP fibres with a peak stiffness of 38 MPa at 1.00 mg/mL TMP and elongation decreased in agreement, demonstrating the potential for an inverse relationship between tension and flexibility. SEM and fibre diameter analyses demonstrated that GO increased the fibre thickness and structural uniformity up to and including an optimal concentration of 200 μg/ml. Antibacterials have demonstrated an inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus (21.4 mm) and Escherichia coli (15.8 mm) by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of light. MTT assays confirmed the cytocompatibility of nanofibers supporting fibroblast proliferation for 72 h, and haemolysis tests showed a negligible haemolytic potential (0.7%). These results highlight the continued potential of SF/GO/TMP composites as functional wound dressings and scaffolds with improved mechanical stability, antibacterial safety, and biocompatibility, which are required for more advanced biomedical fields.

  • Open Access

    Nano Transdermal Delivery Systems of Herbal Extracts for Dermatological Therapeutics and Skin Care

    by Elçin Tören, Adnan Ahmed Mazari

    This article discusses the use of nanotechnology in the development of transdermal delivery systems for herbal extracts for dermatological therapeutics and skin care. Nanotechnology involves manipulating nanoscale materials to create nanoparticles that can penetrate the skin and deliver active ingredients more effectively. Natural products are commonly used in cosmetics because of their therapeutic properties and minimal side effects; however, the safety of nanoparticles in cosmetic products is a concern that requires further research. Chronic and nonhealing wounds pose a significant threat to patients’ lives, and there is a pressing need for novel materials and approaches to wound healing. Nanomaterials exhibit unique physicochemical properties owing to their distinct structures, resulting in small size, surface, and macroscopic quantum tunnelling effects, making them ideal for use in wound dressings. Herbal transdermal patches offer advantages such as better patient tolerance, minimal side effects, renewable sources of medication, extensive availability, and cost-effectiveness; however, they also have disadvantages such as slower growth in demand, testing difficulties, and limited availability. This article concludes that by following a regimen that includes both natural ingredients and over-the-counter treatments, consumers can improve their skin health and appearance.


  • Open Access

    Pullulan/Collagen Scaffolds Promote Chronic Wound Healing via Mesenchymal Stem Cells

    by Elçin Tören, Adnan Ahmed Mazari

    This study investigated the development of Pullulan/Collagen nanofiber scaffolds integrated with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to enhance chronic wound healing. The combination of these biopolymers aims to optimize the scaffold properties for cell growth, viability, and tissue regeneration. Materials and Methods: Pullulan, Collagen, and Pullulan/Collagen composite nanofibers were fabricated using electrospinning. The fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine the fiber diameter, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to assess the molecular interactions. Cell viability was evaluated using MSCs cultured on the scaffolds and apoptosis assays were conducted to assess cell health. Distilled water was used as the solvent to maximize biocompatibility. Results: SEM analysis revealed that Pullulan nanofibers exhibited a larger average diameter (274 ± 20 nm) compared to Collagen fibers (167.03 ± 40.04 nm), while the Pullulan/Collagen composite fibers averaged 280 ± 102 nm. FTIR confirmed the molecular interactions between Pullulan and Collagen. Regarding biocompatibility, the Pullulan/Collagen scaffold demonstrated superior cell viability at 99% compared to 91% for Pullulan alone. Apoptosis assays indicated significantly lower necrosis rates for the composite scaffold (1.29%) than for the Pullulan-only scaffolds (2.35%). Conclusion: The use of distilled water as a solvent played a critical role in increasing cell viability and facilitating healthy proliferation of MSCs without cellular damage. Additionally, the reduced platelet activation and macrophage activity (0.75-fold for both) further supported the biocompatibility of the Pullulan/Collagen scaffold, demonstrating its potential for tissue engineering and chronic wound healing applications.


  • Open Access

    Pullulan-DOX/PVA-PDMS Biopolymeric Core-Shell Nanofibers Potential for Drug Delivery Systems

    by Elçin Tören, Adnan Ahmed Mazari

    In this research, a novel drug delivery system shell was created by loading doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) into Pullulan and integrating the core into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Polydimethoxysilane (PDMS) composite matrix. The incorporation of DOX into the pullulan solution was carried out to take advantage of Pullulan's biocompatibility, biodegradability and hydrophilic nature. The hydrophilic nature of PVA can result in rapid drug release, while the hydrophobic nature of PDMS allows for slower drug release. The use of PVA-PDMS polymers together in the shell offers an initial rapid release followed by a prolonged and controlled drug release. This combination is superior to PVA or PDMS in terms of safety, mechanical strength, flexibility, controlled drug release and structural stability. This innovative composite system was designed to optimise DOX's controlled release to increase its therapeutic efficacy and reduce systemic toxicity. The kinetics of the drug release was characterised by an initial burst release followed by a sustained release phase, allowing controlled and prolonged release of the chemotherapeutic agent. Our results indicate that the pullulan/PVA-PDMS composite is a promising candidate for practical drug delivery applications, especially in cancer therapy.


  • Open Access

    Needless electrospun collagen/hyaluronic acid nanofibers for skin moisturization: Research

    by Elçin Tören, Adnan Ahmed Mazari

    This study investigated the potential of electrospun collagen/hyaluronic acid nanofibers for use in biomedicine and skincare. Needleless electrospinning technology employed in the production process resulted in nanofibers with consistent fiber diameters and improved mechanical properties. The composite nanofibers demonstrated impressive tensile strength and elongation capabilities, indicating a favorable interaction between collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA). Cellular assays revealed that the collagen/HA scaffolds facilitated superior cell adhesion and proliferation compared with the control scaffolds, indicating their biocompatibility and potential for tissue engineering. This biomaterial offers an environment‐friendly alternative to conventional skincare products by eliminating the need for preservatives and reducing waste. Although the initial costs are high, the long‐term benefits of material durability and active ingredient efficacy provide compelling cases for industrial adoption. Our findings suggest that collagen/HA nanofibers have the potential to be the next‐generation materials for regenerative medicine and skincare. Further research is required to optimize their production and assess the economic feasibility of skincare and tissue engineering applications.


  • Open Access

    Recent advances in biopolymer based electrospun nanomaterials for drug delivery systems

    by Elçin Tören, Matej Buzgo, Adnan Ahmed Mazari, Muhammad Zaman Khan

    Drug delivery systems, including liposomes, gels, prodrugs, and so forth, are used to enhance the tissue benefit of a pharmaceutical drug or conventional substance at a specific diseased site with little toxicological impact. Nanotechnology can be a rapidly developing multidisciplinary science that enables the production of polymers at the manometer scale for different medical applications. The use of biopolymers in drug delivery systems provides compatibility, biodegradability and low immunogenicity biologically. Large‐scale and smaller‐than‐expected medication particles can be delivered using biopolymers such as silk fibroins, collagen, gelatine, and others that are easily formed into suspensions. These drug carrier systems are functional at improving drug delivery and can be used in intranasal, transdermal, dental, and ocular delivery systems. This study discusses the latest developments in drug delivery methods based on nanomaterials, mainly using biopolymers like proteins and polysaccharides.


  • Open Access

    Exploring the efficacy of AHA–BHA infused nanofiber skin masks as a topical treatment for acne vulgaris

    by Elçin Tören, Adnan Ahmed Mazari, Matej Buzgo

    This study investigates the efficacy of AHA–BHA infused nanofiber skin masks as a topical treatment for acne vulgaris. The skin is a vital organ that functions as a barrier to protect the body from external substances. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on skin treatment research. Hyaluronic acids (HAs) are commonly used in cosmetic and drug formulations to regulate excessive skin cornification, making them promising candidates for acne treatment. The introduction of HAs in dermatology has revolutionized the field of skin care, and they are used to treat various skin disorders, such as acne, ichthyosis, keratoses, warts, psoriasis, and photoaged skin. The antiaging benefits of HA have gained considerable attention in cosmetic dermatology, resulting in a surge in cosmetic products and skin care systems that contain HA. The study found that AHA–BHA‐infused nanofiber skin masks are effective in treating acne vulgaris. The nanofiber masks were found to reduce inflammation, sebum production, and acne lesions. The study suggests that AHA–BHA‐infused nanofiber skin masks could be a promising topical treatment for acne vulgaris.