Coaxial electrospun PVA/PCL nanofibers with dual release of tea polyphenols and ε-poly (L-lysine) as antioxidant and antibacterial wound dressing materials

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Wound Healing

Background:

• Effective wound dressings require combined antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
• Current treatments often lack dual-delivery capabilities for comprehensive wound management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize coaxial nanofibers for dual-delivery of antioxidant tea polyphenols (TP) and antibacterial ε-poly (L-lysine) (ε-PL).
• To evaluate the release kinetics, antioxidant activity, antibacterial efficacy, and cytocompatibility of the developed wound dressing material.

Main Methods:

• Coaxial electrospinning was employed to create core-shell structured nanofibers.
• Physicochemical characterization included transmission electron microscopy, inverted fluorescence microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
• In vitro drug release studies, antioxidant assays, antibacterial tests against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and cytocompatibility assessments were performed.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of core-shell coaxial nanofibers confirmed by characterization techniques.
• Differential release profiles observed: ε-PL showed fast release, while TP exhibited sustained release.
• Enhanced antioxidant activity correlated with TP content and incubation time.
• Significant antibacterial activity against both tested bacterial strains was demonstrated.
• The coaxial nanofibers exhibited good cytocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The fabricated coaxial nanofibers offer a promising dual-drug delivery system for wound healing.
• The combination of sustained antioxidant and rapid antibacterial actions makes them suitable for advanced wound dressings.
• This technology holds potential for improving clinical wound treatment outcomes.