Design of Curcumin-Loaded Electrospun Polyhydroxybutyrate Mat as a Wound Healing Material

Abstract

Nanotechnology and tissue engineering have accelerated wound healing. Polyhydroxyalkanoates, with suitable physical, biological and mechanical properties, can be considered as a good candidate in tissue repair and regeneration. In this study, nanofibrous mats of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) containing curcumin as a wound healing agent, were designed by electrospinning method. The samples were evaluated by microscopic and mechanical analyses, cell assays and microbial tests. The results of microscopic images showed that the diameter of fibers increased with the increase in the curcumin concentration. The elongation and elasticity modulus of nanofibers increased and decreased respectively, with the increase in the amount of curcumin. Drug release study indicated that increasing the curcumin concentration into nanofibers accelerated rate of drug release. Cytotoxicity results of nanofibrous samples with lower curcumin showed better biocompatibility. The strongest antibacterial activity was shown by the sample with 3% curcumin. In addition, Curcumin-loaded nanofibrous PHB can be potential candidates for wound healing.