Electrospun Fibers and Sorbents as a Possible Basis for Effective Composite Wound Dressings

Abstract

Skin burns and ulcers are considered hard-to-heal wounds due to their high infection risk. For this reason, designing new options for wound dressings is a growing need. The objective of this work is to investigate the properties of poly (ε-caprolactone)/poly (vinyl-pyrrolidone) (PCL/PVP) microfibers produced via electrospinning along with sorbents loaded with Argovit™ silver nanoparticles (Ag-Si/Al2O3) as constituent components for composite wound dressings. The physicochemical properties of the fibers and sorbents were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The mechanical properties of the fibers were also evaluated. The results of this work showed that the tested fibrous scaffolds have melting temperatures suitable for wound dressings design (58–60 °C). In addition, they demonstrated to be stable even after seven days in physiological solution, showing no macroscopic damage due to PVP release at the microscopic scale. Pelletized sorbents with the higher particle size demonstrated to have the best water uptake capabilities. Both, fibers and sorbents showed antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomona aeruginosa and Escherichia coli, Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. The best physicochemical properties were obtained with a scaffold produced with a PCL/PVP ratio of 85:15, this polymeric scaffold demonstrated the most antimicrobial activity without affecting the cell viability of human fibroblast. Pelletized Ag/Si-Al2O3-3 sorbent possessed the best water uptake capability and the higher antimicrobial activity, over time between all the sorbents tested. The combination of PCL/PVP 85:15 microfibers with the chosen Ag/Si-Al2O3-3 sorbent will be used in the following work for creation of wound dressings possessing exudate retention, biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity.

Biocompatible Electrospun Polycaprolactone-Polyaniline Scaffold Treated with Atmospheric Plasma to Improve Hydrophilicity

“…The FTIR-ATR spectra of the PCL-PANI membrane were compared with those of the PCL membrane and PANI-CSA film (Figure 3) to investigate the surface functional groups of the scaffold, obtained by the bending of materials. The PCL-PANI spectrum showed all the main PCL characteristic peaks at 2942 and 2866 cm −1 , referring, respectively, to the asymmetric and symmetric stretching of CH2 groups [47], at 1721 and 1162 cm −1 , corresponding to the stretching of C=O [48] and C-O [49], and at 1294 cm −1 related to the bands of C-C and C-O of the PCL crystalline phase [50]. Moreover, specific PANI-CSA peaks at 1610, 1562 (stretching vibration of quinoid and benzenoid rings) [51] and 881 cm −1 (N-H bending of amine peak) [35] were also detected on the surface of PANI electrospun membranes.…”

Development and Evaluation of Rifampicin Loaded Alginate–Gelatin Biocomposite Microfibers

“…The versatile composition of fibers comprising biopolymers and reinforcing material may serve as a wound dressing material. Wound exudates are also absorbed easily by the microfibers [ 10 ]. In the present research, biocomposite biopolymeric microfibers were fabricated using alginate, gelatin, xanthan gum, and nanoclay.…”

AgNPs Argovit™ Modulates Cyclophosphamide-Induced Genotoxicity on Peripheral Blood Erythrocytes In Vivo

“…This work investigated the genotoxic potential of the commercially available Argovit™ AgNP formulation on BALB/c mice. This formulation has shown remarkable results as an antiviral [ 13 , 14 , 34 , 35 ], antimicrobial [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ], and growth promoter of commercially relevant crops [ 41 , 42 ] with very low cytotoxic [ 17 ] and phytotoxic [ 18 ] damages. For the purposes of the study, we orally administered a daily dose of 6 mg/kg of AgNPs for three consecutive days and continued the observation for five more days.…”